Written answers

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Test

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver tests cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29818/20]

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons currently awaiting a driver test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/20]

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who did not show up for their scheduled driver test in 2019 and 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 to 64, inclusive, together.

The figures requested are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred these questions to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure the Road Safety Authority has enough resources to appoint sufficient driver testers to deal with the six-month waiting list of applications for driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29836/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is remaining in close contact with the RSA who are examining ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints. I am pleased to say, my Department has already given approval to the RSA to retain 18 driver testers on  temporary contracts due to expire in October and November, and to rehire up to 19 testers whose contracts expired in May. The authority is also examining the recruitment and training of new driver testers. However, I would  like to stress that many of the issues impacting on the delivery of service are concerned with the throughput of centres themselves in light of the restrictions, rather than on the availability of staff.

The RSA are also looking at a number of other measures, including whether the number of tests a driver tester can perform each day can be increased and scheduling additional overtime tests, including testing on Saturdays to increase capacity.

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.

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29940/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driving tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

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.

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