Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

190. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planned Road Safety Authority driving test centre for Drogheda, County Louth; when learner drivers can expect to be in a position to book their driving tests in the proposed Drogheda centre; if those who have already booked a test in the Navan or Dundalk test centres will be able to change their test location to Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1639/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Specific details on individual test centres are an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this 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.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to clear the backlog of learner drivers as a result of Covid-19-related lockdowns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is in constant contact with the Road Safety Authority since the start of the pandemic regarding all of its services, the impact of Covid-19 on those services, and how they can best be maintained in the current circumstances.

Due to suspension of driver testing services in the first 2020 lockdown, along with the health protocols since resumption of service and the further curtailing of services during subsequent level 5 restrictions, a significant backlog has developed. The need to once again return to level 5 restrictions 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. This includes increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.

Following discussions with the RSA, my Department has recently approved the hiring of a further 40 temporary testers for 22 months, and the process of recruitment is now underway. However it will take some time for people to be selected and trained.

These new hires will be in addition to the 36 temporary testers who I previously gave sanction to rehire during 2020.

These measures 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. Any decision on this matter will be guided by health protocols.

The Department has been in discussions with the RSA on how to return to the normal target for the maximum waiting time, which is around ten weeks. It is clear that it will not be possible to arrive at this quickly, given restraints which must be in place due to the pandemic. It is important to recognise that there are no quick fixes and that the continuing build-up of applications as the pandemic goes on means that it will take time to reach a normal waiting time.