Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to clear the backlog of driver theory tests and driving tests due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31926/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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During the pandemic, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has delivered 52,569 driving tests, with no case of Covid-19 transmission attributed to a driving test. In line with the gradual reopening of services, driving tests for non-essential workers for those eligible to take the test and who have been waiting longest have recommenced to a limit of 2,000 per month. This relatively small number is a prudent step as we see what the health impact might be. I understand that, to date, the RSA has offered test bookings to over 2,500 candidates. Essential workers continue to be the priority. The reopening of essential driver training for this category means that more essential workers coming through the system will be looking for tests.

My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to meet the growing demand for tests. The RSA has a complement of 100 permanent driver testers. An additional 40 temporary driver testers have been authorised, along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020. The additional testers are expected to start testing by the end of June. In addition, sanction is now being sought to add a further 40 testers to that cohort. We are going from 100 testers to approximately 220. The RSA is also seeking to increase the number of tests from six to seven per tester per day, as well as extending operating hours when restrictions are fully lifted.

The first 40 new testers are in training and the capacity of the service is just over 3,000 tests per week. While training is under way capacity per week is slightly reduced as testers who would otherwise be testing are involved in training new recruits. Assuming a successful return to seven tests per tester per day and with the 40 testers already approved, the capacity of the system will be 4,881 tests per week. If we are still at six tests per tester when the 40 testers begin, that figure will be 4,183. At this point, there are approximately 72,000 people eligible to take a test. With 4,881 tests weekly, it should be possible to clear that backlog in 15 weeks, allowing for those testers doing seven tests per day.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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This is critical for younger people waiting for both the theory test and the driving test. On the theory test, I am glad that we have been able to reopen the test centres. They will be permitted to conduct 25,000 driver theory tests this month. We have also opened the new online theory test service and we expect 4,000 of those to be carried out in June and a further 6,000 to be carried out in July. There is also increased expansion in our capacity.

Originally, before Covid, the capacity or typical level of testing was 15,000 per month. What we are now doing is looking to set in place a capacity which would increase up to 50,000 tests per month in order that we clear the backlog in the same way that we will try to do in the actual driver testing system.

On both these sides, no resources are being spared. No efforts are being held back in clearing that backlog. We recognise it is important for young people. It is obviously clearly dependent on what happens in respect of Covid but the fact that we have not had a single case of transmission from our testing service should give us confidence that we will be able to do this.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Before the Minister responds, Deputy Duncan Smith wanted to come in.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I am unsure of the protocol, as I have not come in on another parliamentary question previously. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank the Minister for the response. While it is clear that the resources are coming in, can I raise an issue? There is a relatively small subcategory of people, namely, those with additional needs and disabled drivers, who have not been able to keep up their lessons and are in danger of having their learner permits expire before they are able to take their tests. These are people who were impacted by Covid at an extra level. Were I to either submit a parliamentary question or send the Minister a letter, would he have a look at some kind of model to allow the small number of people who have additional needs, in terms of driving lessons and their ability to take them, to have the validity of their learner permits extended? This would allow them the extra time to catch up because they do not have the flexibility many others may have in taking lessons and, ultimately, their test.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Were the Deputy to send me a letter to that effect, I certainly would follow up.

I will say a "Thank you" as well. Various people have kept working. While everyone has kept working in their own way through this pandemic, the staff in driving testing were able to do those 52,569 driving tests for essential purposes. That was an important part of keeping the country and the economy going, and I thank them.

There are very significant additional resources being put in. Many of the new people are being trained by those permanent driving testers. I thank them and everyone in the theory test centres as they start to ramp up.

It was only Covid that stopped us opening and it is only the efforts of the collective population getting the disease back to low numbers that is allowing us to reopen. Hopefully, we will clear this backlog in a matter of months. That will be a good news story for everyone.