Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

Like previous speakers, I have serious concerns about the significant delays to driving tests across my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. A solution to this issue needs to be accelerated as soon as possible. We have to allocate new testers to locations throughout the country that are experiencing long delays. The delays drivers in Carlow and Kilkenny are facing are just not acceptable. People spend months and months learning how to drive. It costs a lot of money but they are then met with a long waiting time for their tests. We have to do better. In the last month alone, I have spoken to people, mostly young people, from Piltown, Mullinavat, Stoneyford, Graiguenamanagh, Callan, Thomastown, Kells, Ballyhale, Kilmanagh, Ballyragget, Conahy, Paulstown, Saint Mullin's, Borris, Rathanna, Ballinakill and Bagenalstown, all of whom are waiting patiently to sit their tests. It is particularly unfair to our younger people, some of whom are desperate to get their driver's licence, perhaps for health or work reasons. It is just not acceptable. In Kilkenny, to get a new test, you are looking at 23 or 24 weeks depending on the test centre. In Carlow, it is either 24 or 26 weeks, depending on whether it is done in the Carlow centre or the centre at the Talbot Hotel Carlow.

These exponential waiting lists are unacceptable for learner drivers and they are just not fair. I was astonished recently to learn of the low number of driver testers throughout Carlow and Kilkenny. There are only five testers between the two counties. We cannot tackle the long waiting lists such as we have with only five testers. I am informed there is a process ongoing to hire and train more testers to the highest possible standards. I welcome the Road Safety Authority, RSA, approach to tackle these waiting lists and lack of testers. I believe that last September the Department sanctioned the recruitment of an additional 70 driver testers, bringing the overall driver tester headcount to 200, which is double the 2022 number of 100 but it is not enough. I understand that recruitment campaigns of this size can take time but I look forward to new driver testers being assigned to help tackle the backlog. Carlow and Kilkenny need to be prioritised.

Yesterday I spoke with a young woman who has been promoted in her job. She is absolutely delighted but as part of her new job and her new role she needs to be able to have access to a full driving licence. It is a requirement for work but she is prevented from advancing her career. She is on a waiting list to get a driver test and it is just not acceptable. Young apprentices in my constituency are on to me regularly with the same thing. They need the licence for work and there is no priority given for work purposes. It just needs to be improved and sped up dramatically.

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