Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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218. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) will be allocated an appointment for a driver test. [28318/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have no information on any individual cases.

However, my Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA as they deal with the increased demand for their driver testing service since operations resumed following its temporary closure due to the COVID emergency. In addition to this, due to the social distancing requirements, normal daily capacity is considerably reduced. This means that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended. The public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.

It is my understanding that those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 are being prioritised in the first instance. Priority then will be given in order of application date. While there is some capacity for urgent test slots, the Road Safety Authority (RSA)'s capacity to make these available in all cases will be limited. Therefore, initially those who are frontline healthcare workers will be deemed eligible for an urgent test slot. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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219. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider instructing the Road Safety Authority to install sheltering facilities such as ultra cabins at driver test centres in which approved driver instructors can await the return of their vehicles which are being used by driver test candidates for the duration of the practical exam (details supplied). [28328/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct response. Please contact my office if no reply has been received within ten working days.