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

I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge on behalf of the Government that the waiting times for driving tests are too long. They are averaging at 20 or 21 weeks across the country. The service level agreement says ten weeks, so nobody should have to wait more than ten weeks for a driving test appointment. The reason the delays are happening is because there has been a 30% increase in applications for driving tests. Levels are now 30% higher than even before the pandemic period, and there is backlog related to that too. We are increasing the number of testers from 100 to 130, which is a 30% increase that will get us on top of the backlog. I guarantee we will get on top of it. A bit like the work permits and passports, it will take a bit of time but we will do it.

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