Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason driving theory testing centres are still closed despite the Road Safety Authority stating it is confident it can run the service safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28150/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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.

From the start, it has been clear that the first priority is public safety. We want to provide services, and we know people are looking for services but we will provide them only to the limit possible while preserving public health.