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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 18 together.

I thank Deputies Griffin and Tully who have raised this important issue.

The Deputy will be aware that the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has statutory responsibility for the operational aspects of the national driver testing service, including in the context of test applications and scheduling matters. I assure the Deputy, however, that my Department is working closely with the authority to address driver testing waiting times, which is an issue of great concern. The length of waiting time for many, particularly young people, has been unacceptable. The current national average waiting time for an invitation to test is 25 weeks, far above the service level agreement of ten weeks. The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. Contributing factors to this rise in demand include an increase in the number of learner permits in circulation, increased capacity in the context of the driver theory test and an increase in the capacity of approved driving instructors to deliver lessons to learner drivers.

Anticipating ongoing demand pressures, the authority reviewed the capacity of the service and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers in March of this year. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to 205, which is more than double the 100 sanctioned posts in June 2022. The first new recruits were deployed in September. It is expected that before the end of the year, there will be a net increase of 42 driver testers. These new recruits are being allocated across the driver testing service, with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests. There is also a requirement for flexible deployment that balances demand for tests with local supply of testers. In the Dublin area alone, there will be an increase in the number of testers of 14 bringing the total number of testers in the county to 52. Cavan has been allocated an additional driver tester. I am also advised by the RSA that it will be examining the other regions in the context of that flexible deployment.

Overall, the authority is providing an average of 4,000 tests per week nationwide, up 25% on this time last year. Driving tests are offered on Saturdays. However, testing on a Sunday is not offered as the authority needs to be mindful of working hours rules for driver testers. Therefore, Sunday overtime would not add any additional capacity to the driver testing service.

As the new driver testers have been deployed, average wait times have been declining since September. This reduction will accelerate as all of the new recruits enter active service. The RSA estimates that the agreed service level of average wait times of ten weeks will be restored in the middle of 2024.

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