James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

205. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Covid-19 compliance capacity of learner driver test theory venues is being applied to overcome the current backlog (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24481/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The operation of the Driver Theory Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and as such the RSA, and its service provider, are responsible for the health and safety of staff under health and safety legislation, including assessments of their various functions, and developing safety protocols to ensure the safety of their workers.

The RSA have provided the Department with comprehensive information concerning the measures that have been put in place across all their services to ensure they can continue in a safe manner and in line with HSE and HSA guidelines.

Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA is engaging with its service provider to examine ways of increasing the number of tests for when services resume. The aim is to increase capacity at all test centres to cater for additional appointments.

I am happy to confirm the figure of limiting capacity to 4000 tests per month is incorrect. It would appear that this figure represents an approximate figure for the number of online tests which will be available in the near future as the RSA begins to roll out theory tests for car drivers.

Pre-pandemic capacity was approximately 15,000 tests per month. When the service is allowed to reopen, the aim is to provide approximately 50,000 tests per month, while adhering to the required public health guidelines and protocols. This would make substantial inroads into the backlog.