James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the matter of the possibility of a temporary amnesty for the driver theory test. Every Senator and Deputy is acutely aware of the serious backlog in theory tests and the impact of same. Certainly anybody in that situation has my sympathy and staff in my constituency office in Wexford are acutely aware.

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. She cannot be here and sends her apologies.

The driver theory testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, RSA. As the Senator will be aware, the gradual reopening of in-person driver theory test centres commenced on 8 June and as test centres have reopened they will be permitted to conduct 25,000 theory tests monthly. The centres have extensive Covid-19 measures in place to protect both customers and staff, and ensure a safe delivery of the service. It is planned that capacity will be increased to approximately 50,000 tests monthly when public health guidance permits. A gradual reopening was possible due to the detailed work undertaken by the RSA and its contractor, in conjunction with expert medical advice, to examine each aspect of the testing process, and ensure to the maximum possible that the resumed tests would be safe for the public.

The RSA has been working to deliver online theory tests as well with a pilot online test under way for trucks and buses. The pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests. The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles for the month of June. From July, the authority plans to offer up to 10,000 tests per month. Tests are available on a first come, first served basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year.

It is important to emphasise the limits of an online test. While convenient for test candidates, tests must be monitored closely thus making them far more staff intensive than tests in centres. When the RSA and Prometric, which is the test operator, get approval to extend capacity in centres to 50,000 tests they have indicated that they will prioritise staff for the test centres and may have to reduce the figures online from 10,000. This will have a positive impact as the test centres are far more efficient and can deliver a greater number of tests.

The Department of Transport is conscious of the significant number of people waiting to take their driver theory test. While we can appreciate a suggestion of a temporary amnesty to alleviate the backlog, the Minister for Transport will not make changes to the existing legislation for the learning to drive process. A test is required by EU law. While the EU requires only that theory be tested before a person receives a full licence, national law requires that before applying for a learning permit, candidates must complete and pass a driver theory test. This applies to anyone applying for a first learning permit in any vehicle category. The test is designed to check knowledge of critical issues such as rules of the road, risk perception, hazard awareness and good driving behaviour. Upon passing the theory test, an individual can then apply for a learner permit. We require the theory test before issuing a learning permit for the safety of all road users, including the learners themselves. Until a person successfully completes a driver theory test and demonstrates that he or she has attained a sufficient level of road safety and motoring knowledge, he or she cannot commence driving on our roads. Almost 25% of all those who undertake a theory test do not pass. By allowing individuals to bypass this vital step in the learning to drive process will only put their safety and the safety of others at risk, which I know is not the Senator's intention, and risk further pressure on other services.

It will take time for the driver theory testing service to return to normal and for the backlog to be cleared. The new online service is still in the pilot stage but the intention is to offer the service more broadly to customers in the coming months. The increased physical capacity, when permitted, coupled with the new pilot online service will help manage the backlog of customers and shorten waiting times. Every measure has been put in place to ensure that the maximum number of customers can be served while public health guidelines are strictly adhered to.