Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if steps will be taken to expedite a driver theory test backlog for a person (details supplied). [41805/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The scheduling of candidates’ driver theory tests is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in conjunction with their service provider and as Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases.

When the Driver Theory Test Service closed due to the latest restrictions, the majority of testing centres had almost full bookings up to end December and some into January too as it worked its way through the initial backlog. The decision was taken by the service provider that any candidates who had appointments on the suspension of the service were rescheduled to the next available slots.

Driver Theory Test Centres re-opened from 1st December, following Government decision, and additional availability is now being added for January, February and March. In other words, a range of new slots are opening up in the next couple of months.  I would advise candidates to regularly check the service through as more appointments become available.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which rescheduled driver theory tests cancelled due to level 5 restrictions are being managed alongside bookings already made; and if cancelled tests are being prioritised now that test centres have reopened. [41858/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should be aware that the operation of the driver theory tests is handled by the RSA, under contract, and it is for them to devise the most effective way of how rebookings will be handled.

As I understand the situation, following the closure of the Driver Theory Test Service for the duration of level 5 restrictions, all appointments during that time were initially rescheduled to the next available appointment date. 

The Theory Test service was temporarily suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid 19 emergency. When the service resumed in June, there was an increased level of demand and a significant backlog developed. This was coupled with the need to significantly reduce normal daily capacity to comply with occupational and public health requirements.  

When the Driver Theory Test Service closed on the 21st of October due to the latest restrictions, the majority of testing centres had almost full bookings up to end December and some into January too as it worked its way through the initial backlog. The decision was taken by the service provider that any candidates who had appointments on the suspension of the service were rescheduled to the next available slots. 

Driver Theory Test Centres re-opened from 1st December, following Government decision, and additional availability is now being added for January, February and March.

The Road Safety Authority has advised my office that it is engaging with its service provider to examine ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints. This will help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.

Driver theory test appointments are made available up to the middle of 2021, and additional slots are now being made available over the next few months.With these additional slots, it is anticipated that around 26,000 appointments will be available and some of these have already been booked.In January 2021, a further 10,000 appointments will be made available, with 15,000 to be rolled out in February and a further 15,000 in March 2021. It is planned that the additional slots for these three months will start to be rolled out this week. I would advise candidates to regularly check the service through as more appointments become available.