Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1079. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the NCT test centres, driver test centres and DOE test centres will re-pen. [6896/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time and as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis my Department continues to be guided by National Public Health Emergency Team and the relevant national experts in relation to the resumption of services.

My officials and the Road Safety Authority are currently examining the possibility of resuming National Car Test and driver testing services in light of the roadmap and the return to work protocols published by Government and I hope to make a statement on this matter in the coming weeks.

I should emphasise that the driving test raises, as the Deputy will appreciate, particular difficulties in terms of maintaining social distancing.  While some accommodation is possible in driving tests for truck and bus licence categories, there are particular difficulties with car tests.  I anticipate that driving tests for cars will be the last of the RSA services to resume, and that this will part of Phase 5 of the Government's planned staging for the reopening of the country. 

I am pleased to tell you that Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (CVR) testing resumed on 18 May 2020 - initially only for those vehicles with a test due date prior to 28 March 2020 (i.e. for vehicles that did not benefit from the three-month extension to certificates of roadworthiness).  CVR testing is expected to resume fully over the following weeks for those vehicles with a test due date on or after 28 March 2020.