Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cheist. Aontaím go bhfuil fadhb ann leis an ionad tástála tiomána i nDroichead Átha. Ba mhaith liom an fhadhb a réiteach agus ionad nua a chruthú sa bhaile sin.

The Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the national driving test service, including the locations and operation of driving test centres. A commitment was given last year to close the test centre in Marian Park, Drogheda, by the end of February this year as the leased expired. The site was always a temporary solution while the RSA tried to find a more suitable location. That work is ongoing. The RSA has reviewed several options in the area but has not to date found a suitable alternative location. It is important the site of the test centre does not in itself create unnecessary disruption for communities, particularly in counties Louth and Meath.

The 3,000 customers who applied for a test in Drogheda will be advised that the Drogheda test centre is now closed and will be asked to transfer to Navan, Dundalk or another centre. If, after two weeks, they have not moved their application, they will be integrated into the Dundalk waiting list from the date on which they applied to Drogheda. They will not lose their place in the queue and will slot into the queue relative to candidates who have applied in Dundalk. Dundalk is a much larger centre with more driver testers assigned to it.

The current average waiting time for an invitation to a driving test is 21 weeks, far above the service level agreement of ten weeks. The waiting time in Drogheda is much worse: it was 43 weeks at the beginning of the month. It is not a tenable situation when people have to wait almost a year to get their driving test. This is driven by increased demand. Applications for driving tests have increased 30% since the pandemic. The Department of Transport is working closely with the RSA to try to relieve this. The Department has sanctioned an increase in the number of permanent driver testers from 100 to 130. Demand for tests has gone up by 27%; we will increase the number of testers by 30%. We believe that will get us on top of the backlog.

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