Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered holding the driver theory test online to clear the backlog and allow it to proceed during Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11783/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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At the request of my Department, the RSA in collaboration with the Driver Theory Test service provider, are working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. During the pilot phase, remote testing will be available for specific categories of Theory Test (C, D, CD, BMT, TMT, ADI, CPCB, CPCT).

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

The RSA are keen to progress and extend the service to all categories of Driver Theory Test, however scaling up operations to facilitate higher numbers will take time to achieve.

The RSA, together with its service provider, have put plans in place to significantly increase capacity within the in-person service for when it is allowed to re-open. To cope with the initial four-month suspension in 2020, the service increased capacity from an average pre Covid-19 capacity of 15,000 to over 25,000 monthly. A plan is being progressed to increase this capacity up to 50,000 per month when service resumes, to manage the backlog of customers and shorten waiting times.

The extension of Level 5 restrictions will impact on how quickly the backlog plan can be delivered and the position will be reviewed again when Level 5 is lifted .