Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the kind words of Deputy O'Sullivan. It was great to be down in west Cork and see huge ambition in sport. However, now in a new role, we have to resolve some of the issues the Deputy is having in regard to transport. I know the difficulty and anxiety the delays in driver testing is causing many people who are waiting excessive times. It is unacceptable.

As the Deputy knows, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for operational aspects of the national driving test, including applications and scheduling matters. The issue of driving tests delays is a problem throughout the State which is being repeatedly raised by a number of Deputies. The current national average waiting time for invitation to test is 19 weeks, far above the service level agreement of ten weeks. Indeed, in Skibbereen, I am told the waiting time for an invitation to test is 25 weeks which is well above the current national average and the national average is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with. That is what I am going to try to do.

Broadly speaking the numbers are reflective of a demand on driver testing services, which is 28% up on 2021 figures and 27% up on 2018 pre-Covid-19 pandemic figures. I am informed that the current increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include an increase in learner permits in circulation which has grown by about 30% since quarter 3 of 2019; increased capacity in the driver theory test when the service resumed post-pandemic and an increase in advanced driver instructors' capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers which has increased the volume of learners becoming eligible and ready to take their actual test.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the RSA is making every effort to manage these demand pressures. The authority conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the national driver testing service in 2022, following which my Department sanctioned an increase in the permanent driver tester headcount from 100 to 130. I am informed that the RSA is currently deploying a number of successful candidates across the driver testing service, with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting lists. It is expected that the remainder will be deployed by quarter 1 of 2023. However, I acknowledge there is further work to be done to provide the driver testing services each customer deserves and the authority is committed to delivering. The RSA has assured me that it is keeping the situation under review and the authority will report back to my Department on the steps being taken to continue to reduce waiting times. If sanction requests for further increases in driver testers are received my Department will evaluate them promptly.

On a separate but related matter, I am aware of reports that were made last year following a county council meeting in November 2022, that Skibbereen driving test centre was closing at the end of the year. I would like to assure the Deputy that the RSA has confirmed there are no plans to close Skibbereen driving test centre. The authority will continue to service the Skibbereen driving test centre either via staff headquartered in Skibbereen directly or with resources based across Cork as demand requires. As we referenced with the 25-week average waiting time which is unacceptable, additional resources will be required in Skibbereen directly to deal with the excessive waiting times. Just this afternoon I had a lengthy discussion with my officials in the Department on this issue. I met with the RSA last week. This is not an acceptable threshold of public service in the context of the wait times. We have to ensure that in 2023 we get it back towards the service level agreement, which is ten weeks. However, even ten weeks should be examined. I believe we have to be more ambitious to deliver a better public service that is less than ten weeks. If we can build extra capacity within the system, we have to assess where the 30 are deployed, the 30% increase on the headcount of 100 that was there, and what the impact of that will be. We are anxious to deliver a better service for people who are waiting excessive times including in Skibbereen. There is active work ongoing on this with the RSA and with my Department.

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