Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver test will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3816/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) can have their driver test expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3817/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a response will issue to an urgent query by a person (details supplied); if a driver test will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/21]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a driver test will be rescheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/21]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) will be called for a driver test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3910/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 112, 113, 124 and 125 together.

All enquires relating to scheduling driving tests are handled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA)- who have statutory responsibility for the operation of the test. My Department does not have access to individual applications nor have I any power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred these questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average wait for a driver test at present from the time applicants submit an application; the action he plans to take to reduce this waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3827/21]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to address the backlog of driver tests; the actions that can be taken for persons who are waiting months for a test and cannot avail of public transport due to a lack of availability in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3869/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 119 together.

Details on the average waiting time for a driver test 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.

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.

I am pleased to say, in December, I approved the hiring of a further 40 temporary testers for 22 months. These new hires will be in addition to the 36 temporary testers who were re-hired over the course of 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. It will also take time for the 40 testers to be hired and trained.

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, subject to health assurances.

The Road Safety Authority has advised it is prioritising driver testing for essential workers and has set up a dedicated webform for same. Anyone looking for an urgent driving test appointment who falls into this category can apply to book a driving test at www.myroadsafety.ie If there is no available slot and they have made an application, they can ask to be prioritised by accessing and providing the relevant details.

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.