Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The statements today from around the country have been quite insightful. Naturally many Deputies here are extremely frustrated with the delays they are seeing in their constituencies. In Kildare North, for example, 4,024 people are waiting for a driving test. That is up from 3,303 last year, which is 691 more for the same time period. We are also told that the national average waiting time in March 2025 stood at 24.1 weeks. Many Deputies here have complained about that delay and understandably so. In Kildare North it is 30 weeks, which is an additional six weeks to try to get a test in County Kildare. The difficulty is there is only one test centre in Kildare, which is based in Naas, and there is no other test centre throughout the county. If we look at the population centre of the north east of the county, where I hail from, around Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and Kilcock, there is no test centre. As part of this, a test centre in that area would also be able to look after people in Meath coming from Dunboyne, and some people from Dublin, which is in close proximity.

I have had numerous representations made to me in relation to this. We have heard various stories about how these delays are impacting people on a human level. I will give just one example of a constituent who could not get a test in Naas, is on the list for a test in Tallaght, and has been waiting 43 weeks. This is almost ten months and far beyond what is being stated. He cannot pick up and drop off his young children from crèche and from school because he is still awaiting this test. Another constituent has been waiting almost seven months, which is 30 weeks. This is impacting her independence and ability to work. Many of the people who are being impacted are young people who are doing their driving test for the first time. It is just not good enough, particularly in rural areas but also in urban areas, and it is impacting families in particular.

I am asking two things. What are the Minister of State's plans to address this crisis in Kildare? Will a second test centre be opened in Kildare?

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