Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges that:

— motorists in certain regions of the country are currently facing waiting times of nearly a year to sit their driving tests, as reported in the latest data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA);

— figures released at the end of August highlight significant delays in nearly every driving test centre nationwide, primarily due to a shortage of testers;

— the national average waiting time for a driving test has now reached 30.4 weeks;

— the Dún Laoghaire/Deansgrange test centre currently experiences the longest waiting time, standing at 51 weeks;

— learner drivers seeking to take their tests in Tralee, Co. Kerry, or Mulhuddart in West Dublin are subject to 45-week waiting periods, while those booking tests in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, or Castlebar, Co. Mayo, face wait times of 28 and 21 weeks, respectively;

— the shortest wait time nationally is in Longford, with an 18-week waiting period; and

— the number of eligible learner drivers awaiting an invitation to book their driving tests has increased by 61 per cent over the past year, reaching a total of 71,554 individuals (up from 44,545 in October 2022);

recognises that:

— Government commitments made in April of this year to recruit an additional 75 driver testers have not been fulfilled;

— an objective analysis of driving test services in Ireland would conclude that the service is facing significant issues, as waiting times have now exceeded three times their official target, with an average wait of 30 weeks for a test, despite the RSA, which manages the service, having an official target - underpinned by a service level agreement - of ten weeks;

— the RSA, who have statutory responsibility for the operational aspects of the national driving test, including test applications and scheduling matters, are now consistently in breach of their own service level agreement;

— the delays in driver testing are particularly detrimental to young people who face extended waiting periods for appointments, even though they require their licenses for commuting to work and college; and

— in rural Ireland, where multiple public transport options are not readily available, the impact of driving test delays is felt more acutely, with the situation now hampering employment opportunities and college attendance for young people living in these regions; and

calls on the Government to:

— fully acknowledge its responsibility to ensure that when demand for public services increase, it is obligated to provide the necessary additional resources to meet that demand;

— instruct the Minister for Transport to take immediate action to expedite the recruitment of additional driver testers (examiners) without further delay;

— ensure the development and implementation of a strategic plan that will lead to the achievement of the RSA's official target of a maximum ten-week wait for a driving test at every testing centre in the country by the end of 2023 at the latest; and

— instruct all public bodies, including the RSA, to guarantee that all services under their jurisdiction allow individuals the option to pay for services using cash without any associated penalties.

In various regions of Ireland, aspiring motorists on their journey towards obtaining a driving licence are currently grappling with an unexpected hurdle, namely, the seemingly interminable waiting lists for a driver test. The latest data from the Road Safety Authority, RSA, have revealed an increasing number of learners are facing excruciating delays in booking their tests. This crisis is attributed to a significant shortage of testers and paints a dire picture of the national driving test landscape. It is time to shed light on this issue and underscore the urgent need for Government intervention to address these delays and provide much-needed relief to learner drivers.

The figures released at the end of August make it abundantly clear the waiting times for driving tests have grown to unprecedented lengths. The national average waiting time for a driving test stands at a staggering 30.4 weeks. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the driving test crisis is the dramatic surge in the number of eligible learner drivers who are anxiously awaiting an invitation to book a driving test. In the past year, this number has increased by a startling 61%, reaching a staggering total of 71,554 individuals, up from 44,545 in October 2022.

The root of this crisis can be traced back to unfulfilled Government commitments. In April, promises that an additional 75 driver testers would be recruited were made. These commitments, however, have yet to materialise. An objective analysis of driving test services reveals the service is undoubtedly in turmoil. Waiting times are more than three times the official targets. Despite the official target of the RSA being underpinned by a service level agreement, SLA, of a ten-week waiting period, learners currently face an average wait of 30 weeks for a test. This chronic delay is particularly detrimental for young people who rely on their licences for daily commuting to work and college.

The impact of these driving test delays is even more pronounced in rural areas, where public transport options are limited. In these regions, the current situation significantly hampers employment opportunities and access to higher education for young people. It is not merely an inconvenience, but a significant barrier to progress. The need for immediate Government intervention is paramount. Learner drivers and their families deserve a clear acknowledgement from the Government that it has a fundamental responsibility to provide the necessary resources to meet the surging demand for public services. The Minister for Transport should be promptly directed to expedite the recruitment of additional driver testers to alleviate this crisis. Furthermore, a strategic plan must be developed and implemented to ensure the RSA's official target of a maximum ten-week wait for a driving test is achieved at every testing centre.

By the end of 2023 at the latest, public bodies, including the RSA, must be instructed to guarantee that all their services provide the option to pay with cash, without incurring associated penalties.

The driving test crisis has reached breaking point. Action is not merely advisable, it is an immediate necessity to relieve the countless learner drivers and their families who are enduring the hardship of this situation. It is time for the Government to step up, fulfil its commitments and ensure learners receive timely and efficient driving tests, thereby removing the roadblock to their aspirations and opportunities.

I know of a young man in west Cork who works for the HSE, keeping the heating and water going in public hospitals. One would think he would be classified as an emergency worker and would have his test expedited but, apparently, his situation is not deemed an emergency. I wonder whether it would be considered an emergency if the heat and water in the hospitals was closed off. Another young man phoned my office yesterday. He has been told he will be offered a job if he can produce a licence in the coming weeks. He has not even received an invitation to a test. The father of a third young man, who has been trying to get a test since August, contacted me. He was delighted his son was so enthusiastic about getting on the road. He does not drink or do drugs, and he is still awaiting an invitation for a driving test. The list goes on and on. Every day of the week, my office is inundated with calls from people begging for a driving test. All summer long, I was contacted by college students who were trying to get a driving test to allow them to get a job or, at least, to travel to and from college freely and legally.

There has been a lot of talk recent months about the high number of car accidents. There are 2.2 million vehicles in this country, far more than there were when figures started 15 or 20 years ago. The roads are in appalling condition. Last week, I received messages and phone calls from people who had heard this motion would be coming before the Dáil and who wanted me to raise issues of serious concern that are causing a significant number of road accidents in west Cork. There is a need for the Minister to consider other issues. Young people who get on the road are being blamed for many of the accidents that happen but I gravely doubt the accidents are their fault. The situation in respect of the cutting of dykes on all local roads, however, is astonishing. At least 4 ft of roadway have been lost on rural roadways due to a Government decision not to cut verges. It is happening almost everywhere in the world but it is not happening on local or regional roads in Ireland. Can the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, envisage 4 ft of roadway being lost? Can he imagine trying to drive a bus or truck under those stressful conditions? Mirrors are being broken by overgrown trees and branches along road and cost up to €1,000 to replace. The Government, however, continues to refuse to recognise that the very least entitlement people should have when they pay their car tax and insurance is to have the roadsides clear to allow them to drive safely.

When we put questions to the Minister of State recently, we were told 15 new testers would be recruited for October. He claimed it was a good news story. It would have been a good news story but when my office dug deep into the issue, we found that none of those testers are coming to west Cork. What does the Government have against west Cork? Are the people there supposed to wait seven, eight or nine months for tests? The Minister of State is nodding. Those are the facts. He cannot nod against something that is happening. He should not be in denial. For God's sake, he should have a bit of honesty and say the Government will try to put the situation right, but he should not nod in denial. I know what is happening. People are applying for a test and being told it will be May, June or July before they get one. The Minister of State can nod all he likes. I know what is happening in my area. I would like him to tell me I am wrong and show me where I am wrong.

We often talk about road accidents. Sadly, there has been a loss of life. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, made clear to the Department of Transport that if it does not invest in roads, there will be extra deaths on the roads, and that is what has happened. The Government, however, is inclined to look at whether speed limits can be lowered. It is astonishing that no money has been spent on the N71 road from Ballydehob Cross to Innishannon. Nothing has been spent on it since the bypass of Skibbereen 20-something years ago. Last week, I referred to the road outside the Spar shop in Skibbereen. I could name different places. There are holes big enough to bury people in them. What is wrong with the country that the Government cannot spend on roads and keep people protected on them? It is astonishing that it is allowing this to go on. On the N71, there are no passing lanes or roadside workers. We have seen quite a lot of flood water in recent days. When I was growing up, that water was always cleared because there were roadside workers to clear the dykes. As those workers are no longer in place, however, the water will obviously stay on the roadside. Projects such as the Bandon northern and southern relief roads and the Bantry relief road have been promised to the people of west Cork for the past 15 or 20 years but there has been no delivery. The only delivery in my time was the relief road in Skibbereen, which was a great help. There is a massive issue.

Of course, young people who are unable to get a driving test cannot turn to the privilege of public transport. Public transport is a no-go area. As I stated last week in the House, this affects places such as Drinagh, Dunmanway, Clonakilty, Baltimore and Mizen Head. I could name the places one after another. Some of them have one public transport service a day; others have none. There is no transport service but young people are expected to find their way to college or work. They are unable to do so. This is the Minister of State's chance to wake up and deliver driving testers to centres throughout the country. He should not pick Dublin. Dublin has a public transport service that is second to none. We need to deliver to rural areas.

I have been raising this issue for the past 12 months. I was disgusted to hear that Senator Lombard from west Cork said I was scaremongering with regard to driving tests and the lack of testers in west Cork. That shows how far out of touch the Senator is. How dare he say I am scaremongering? My constituents are coming to me because they have been waiting four, five or six months for a driving test. The list is getting longer. Now is the time to act.

I ask him to stop sitting behind the wheel and doing nothing as it is time to work on this.

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