Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is critical for younger people waiting for both the theory test and the driving test. On the theory test, I am glad that we have been able to reopen the test centres. They will be permitted to conduct 25,000 driver theory tests this month. We have also opened the new online theory test service and we expect 4,000 of those to be carried out in June and a further 6,000 to be carried out in July. There is also increased expansion in our capacity.

Originally, before Covid, the capacity or typical level of testing was 15,000 per month. What we are now doing is looking to set in place a capacity which would increase up to 50,000 tests per month in order that we clear the backlog in the same way that we will try to do in the actual driver testing system.

On both these sides, no resources are being spared. No efforts are being held back in clearing that backlog. We recognise it is important for young people. It is obviously clearly dependent on what happens in respect of Covid but the fact that we have not had a single case of transmission from our testing service should give us confidence that we will be able to do this.

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