Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver theory test will be made available for persons that must complete the test in order to attend an institution of education under current restrictions, such as the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13355/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service under Level 5 restrictions. The service will remain closed while level 5 restrictions remain in place. No exceptions will be made regardless of the circumstances. While I fully appreciate the inconvenience this poses, I am sure you will agree with me that the limiting of the spread of the virus and the safeguarding of public health takes priority.

While the service remains closed at present, a plan is being progressed to increase capacity from an average pre Covid19 level of 15,000 appointments up to 50,000 appointments per calendar month. This will help manage the backlog of customers and shorten waiting times. This increased capacity is expected to be made available from mid-April 2021.

In addition to the increased capacity initiative, the RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. The online service has been trialled on a pilot basis for those taking a theory test for trucks and buses and is now being evaluated with a view to extending the online service type to all test types during 2021.