Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) will be prioritised for an appointment for a driver theory test to allow them entry to a college placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24986/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Autority Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, including the theory test, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it is planned to resume driver theory tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25014/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is planned to extend the pilot scheme driver theory test remotely to include category B vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25016/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 87 together.

The Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.

Officials both in this Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that Theory Tests can resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

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 have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog.

The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver theory test will be expedited for a person (details supplied) on the resumption of theory testing for work purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25015/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, including the theory test, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred 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.