Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who have applied for and are awaiting their driver theory test by county (details supplied); and the number waiting at 31 December 2019, 31 March 2020, 30 June 2020, 30 September 2020 and 31 December 2020, by county in tabular form. [4094/21]

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the waiting times for each county for the driver theory test from 31 December 2019 to end December 2020 by month. [4095/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.

Specific details on the number of persons awaiting a driver theory test in each test centre are held by the Road Safety Authority.

I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the growing numbers of persons who are awaiting their driver theory test (details supplied). [4096/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under current level 5 restrictions, the Driver Theory Test has not been deemed by Government to be an essential service. As a consequence, the service is closed while level 5 restrictions remain in place.

While I regret the inconvenience caused, I think you will agree with me that this decision was necessary for public health reasons. It was decided, in a climate where only limited services are being provided in order to reduce the spread of Covid and where continuing services must be both safe and essential, that even if the theory test could be conducted safely it was not essential to the point of being needed during this period of restrictions.

The Road Safety Authority has advised my office that it is engaging with its service provider to maximise capacity to offer tests while adhering to occupational and public health requirements for when servicers are resumed. In this regard, they would, for example, be opening on additional days at some centres and extended hours also provided to allow additional capacity for appointments.

The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time. In all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department continues to be guided by National Public Health Emergency Team and the relevant national experts in relation to the provision of services.