Written answers
Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Driver Test
Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for a driver test; the waiting times for a test in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31338/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test. The information requested is held by the Authority.
This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the driver test wait time for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31339/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The driving test is the statutory responsibility of 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)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
260. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a reader will be made available for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal with dyslexia who is scheduled to sit their driver theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31341/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test.
The question is an operational matter for the RSA and I do not have any role in this process. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority 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)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
261. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver test will be offered to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31342/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The driving test is the statutory responsibility of 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)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
262. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the frequency of driver tests in County Donegal since the reopening of the driving centres; the planned frequency for the coming six months per centre, per day in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31343/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test. The information requested is held by the Authority.
This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
263. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been allocated with an appointment for the driver theory test in August 2021 given that they had a confirmed test date in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31369/21]
Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
264. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been allocated an appointment for the driver theory test in August 2021 given that they had a confirmed test date in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31375/21]
Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
265. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been allocated with an appointment for the driver theory test in September 2021 given that they had a confirmed test date in June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31376/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 264 and 265 together.
The Driver Theory Test Service has now re-opened on a gradual basis with a maximum monthly capacity of 25,000 tests initially.
This means that while there are currently over 25,000 customers with an appointment for a Theory Test in June, some appointments will be rescheduled to a later date. Customers who cannot be accommodated in June because of volume restrictions will have to be rescheduled. The RSA have advised that there is no need for candidates to contact the Theory Test service - affected customers will be contacted directly. They are being resceduled into next available slot in their chosen location.
The test centres have extensive COVID-19 measures in place to protect both customers and staff and to ensure the safe delivery of the service. It is hoped that capacity will gradually increase to 50,000 tests per month over time, if public health guidance permits.
The RSA has been working to deliver an online theory test service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses. This pilot service has now been extended to include a limited number of car and motorbike tests.
The new offering will see 4,000 online theory tests available for all categories of vehicles per month. Tests are available on a first-come-first-served basis with the new online service becoming more widely available later in the year. From mid-June, the RSA plans to increase this by a further 2,000. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
266. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an issue in relation to the online theory test by a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31378/21]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test.
The question is an operational matter for the RSA and I do not have any role in this process. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
No comments