Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have been contacted by a number of young people, in particular in Roscommon and Galway, who had applied for their driver theory tests and been given their dates, but have since got letters cancelling them and rescheduling them. In one case, this has happened seven times. A young person who was due to do the theory test tomorrow has got a letter to say it is cancelled and rescheduled for 4 August, in six weeks' time. This is particularly a problem for young people in rural areas who want to take up summer work in the midst of silage season and, hopefully, hay in the next few weeks. It is obviously a problem for those in rural areas, where we do not have public transport as an alternative.

I understand additional resources have been put in place, which I welcome, but I ask the Minister for Transport to look at the issue of cancellations and at whether this issue is widespread. He should also examine if additional resources are needed for the National Driver Licence Service, which is providing the licences. There is now a four-week wait for provisional licences after people pass the theory test. I ask that this is looked at to ensure we get tests for people as quickly as possible.

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