Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1406. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the delays for driving tests in the Dublin city and county areas; his plans to reduce the waiting times in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55227/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Driver Testing Service, provided by the Road Safety Authority, has seen an increase of almost 20% in the levels of driving test applications over the last four years. This, coupled with the retirements of driver tester staff, has meant that the waiting times for customers for driving tests have increased.

The Authority currently employs almost 100 driver testers. Since October 2016, my Department has sanctioned the recruitment of an additional 28 Driver Testers. It is envisaged that the recruitment of the latest appointees will be assigned, trained and conducting testing by early 2018.

The Authority is currently undertaking initiatives in order to increase capacity to deliver extra driving tests. These initiatives include the recruitment of additional driver testers and the delivery of 120 extra overtime tests per driver tester who participates. Other measures include initiatives to reduce the number of applicant no-shows at the driving test, and to reduce the number of non-conducted driving tests. The Authority plans to introduce a new test booking system in 2018 that will give test applicants much more control over their booking and appointment choice.

The Authority is committed to working with any applicants that require an urgent appointment. A priority list system is in place whereby cancelled test appointments are made available for such applicants. Over 1,000 tests are cancelled by driving test applicants weekly and these slots are subsequently offered to applicants who require urgent test appointments.

While I accept that current waiting times remain too high, I am assured that the measures the Authority has put in place will have the desired effect of reducing waiting times to the public.