Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In February this year, I addressed the House during a debate on a Sinn Féin Private Members' motion in relation to the driving test backlog.

We outlined our proposal to address the backlog, not for the first time. I ask the Department to redouble its efforts regarding the recognition or exchange of international driving licences. This would decrease the number waiting, whether it be the long-term diaspora seeking to return home or those arriving to work in the health service. With a shortage of carers, this has to have the potential to alleviate the backlog while contributing positively in other areas.

The Minister for Transport should want to intervene to address the ever-growing backlog relating to driving tests, a backlog that prevents people from being able to drop their children to school, drive to important appointments, take up employment in all areas, go to college or simply go about their ordinary day-to-day business. Let us take stock of the impact the Minister has had to date. In the past two months, since Sinn Féin brought forward the Private Members’ motion, in County Monaghan, to give an example, the waiting time grew from 20 weeks to 22 weeks and the number of tests carried out decreased by 27%. It is not surprising, therefore, that the waiting time for tests has grown by 12% while the number of tests scheduled decreased by over one third.

The worsening situation is not surprising given we have 50% fewer testers today than we had at the beginning of 2023. There is currently just one sole tester in County Monaghan. We need more testers and more centres. By the summer’s end in County Monaghan, and in every county at this rate, we are on track to see a dramatically increased number of people waiting up to six months for a driving test. They will be out of pocket and their lives will be negatively impacted, and the Minister will ultimately be responsible.

What I ask of the Minister, and it is bizarre that it must be asked of him, is to take ownership of this issue, accept that, as Minister for Transport, he is ultimately responsible, and take on board and implement Sinn Féin's proposals to tackle the backlog. What is needed now is urgency from the Minister for Transport. Please do not pass the buck to the RSA or any other State agency, tsar or kaiser that the Minister may dream up.

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