Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the waiting times for driving tests in Tullamore and Birr, County Offaly, and Portlaoise, County Laois, respectively; and the efforts being made to address the waiting times. [39314/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Specific details on waiting times for driver tests are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this part of the question 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.

As you are aware, tests were temporarily suspended due to the Covid 19 emergency and since resuming operations, there has been an increased level of demand. Unfortunately, due to social distancing requirements, normal capacity has been considerably reduced and this means that customers will experience longer waiting times for a test than was the case before the service was suspended. The need to return to Level 5 restrictions from 22 October to 1 December 2020 for reasons of public health will inevitably impact further on delays to driver testing. During the Level 5 period, driving tests will be available only to those who are involved in essential services, including essential retail work.

While the service is limited during Level 5 restrictions, the Road Safety Authority is examining ways of increasing the number of tests within health constraints with an eye to resuming wider testing after Level 5, and is working in close consultation with my Department on this matter. This includes increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.

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 18 testers whose contracts expired in May. This will help to increase testing capacity. 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.

While I regret the inconvenience caused, public safety is of paramount importance. My officials and I are working hard to ensure the resumption of services as soon as Level 5 is lifted.