Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driver licence tests will recommence; and if priority will be given to those who have specific mobility requirements or caring responsibilities. [16713/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The RSA has been working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safely Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.

The driver testing service restarted on a gradual basis during Phase 3 of the Government’s road map for easing of Covid19 restrictions.

On Monday 29 June, driving tests resumed on a gradual basis for trucks, buses and motorcycles. Fourteen driving test centres reopened initially, but as the number of tests and categories of vehicles being tested increases in the coming weeks, the remaining test centres will reopen.

The RSA will update its website, rsa.ie, to advise on each centre as it reopens.

Following the publication by Government of a revised Phase 3 road map for reopening Ireland, driving tests for cars, vans and minibuses are now resuming on a phased basis. Priority will initially be given to frontline workers and those who had their tests cancelled when the driver testing service was suspended.

However, any driving test candidate can email urgenttests@rsa.ie to request an earlier test. They will be required to provide justification as to why they should be allocated an urgent test.