Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is a very important motion given the lengthy delays people across the State face in securing driver tests. More than 72,000 people are currently waiting - an increase of 60% since 2022. This has been an issue for years, but it is at crisis point now and action is needed to urgently address the backlog.

We know why we are in this situation. It is because there has been a failure to recruit enough driver testers. We have been totally over-reliant on temporary testers. We do not have enough test centres and it is clear that the RSA does not have the capacity or ability to address the backlogs, which breaches its own service level agreement.

This impacts hugely on people, mostly young people, who need to drive and are missing out on employment and educational opportunities as a result. It particularly impacts those who need a driver's licence to begin a job - the likes of bus drivers, paramedics, and so on who we know are badly needed. It leaves people stranded, particularly those in rural communities who do not have public transport available to them. The Government often does not understand the reality of life in rural Ireland. We do not have good quality public transport. We do not have buses going by our door every few minutes. We rely on cars to transport ourselves. That will continue to be the reality for many in rural communities for the foreseeable.

Young people in rural communities need to be able to drive. It is critical for their independence and to be able to lead an adult life, but many are being denied that opportunity for months on end. It is not fair or sustainable for them to be left having to rely on lifts from friends or family members to get around. This also leads to social isolation. This is the same generation that is suffering with the housing crisis and the rising costs of education among other things. They cannot also be left stuck at home; they need support to live independent lives. The Government must step up to the plate to provide for that.

In my county of Galway, the waiting time for an invitation to a driver test ranges from 15 to 29 weeks. The waiting times are longer in other parts of the State. That is totally unacceptable. It is causing significant difficulties for young people in my constituency and across the State.

Learning to drive is difficult enough and expensive enough as it is. Learner drivers have to pay outrageous insurance premiums and a lot of money for lessons. The delays only prolong the situation. We must ease the burden on young people and support them to start their adult life and get the opportunities that driving can present to them.

It is very clear that more resources are needed to meet demand. This means ending the overreliance on temporary driver testers and expediting the recruitment of permanent testers. There must be an urgent review of the RSA's mandate, resourcing and programme of work. Its performance is a key factor in all of this and cannot be ignored.

New test centres must be established, particularly in areas where there are none at present. There are large gaps in some locations and these must be filled by the RSA as a matter of urgency. We need some political will from the Government to ensure that these changes are made and driver tests are easily accessible to those applying for them.

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