Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if matters raised by a person (details supplied) in correspondence will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1964/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My Department had previously requested that the Road Safety Authority, as the body legally responsible for the driver theory test, examine whether theory tests can be taken on line remotely and what is required to do so.

I am pleased to inform you that the Driver Theory Test service has recently launched a pilot phase of a new initiative, which offers a Remote Testing service for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB, CPCT).

During the pilot phase Remote Testing will be available on a limited basis and extra capacity will be added as it is rolled out to allow more customers to sit their bus, truck, CPC or ADI Theory Test online. Remote Testing allows candidates to test from their home or another suitable environment once the minimum requirements for the service have been met.

Following a review of the pilot phase, I understand the RSA expect the initiative to be extended for car and motorcycles in the future.

As remote testing offers the benefits of creating additional capacity whilst also enabling the service to continue in the event of further lockdowns, it would be expected this would greatly help in returning the service to normal waiting times.