Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the arrangements being put in place to facilitate driver theory tests in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32198/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test. The information requested is held by the RSA and 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.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driving lessons are to resume for non-essential workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32199/21]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when essential driver training lessons for non-essential workers will resume; and the actions that will be taken to assist in clearing this backlog of non-essential workers waiting to take such lessons. [32205/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test. The information requested is held by the RSA and 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.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driving tests will resume for non-essential workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32200/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Driving tests for essential workers will continue to be the priority for the driver testing service. In line with the gradual reopening of services, driving tests for all those who are eligible to take the test and have been waiting longest have recommenced in a limited fashion. The further opening of the driver testing service will be the subject of discussions between Department officials and the RSA in the coming weeks.

The health of both the public and the testers themselves must take priority, and as a result it is important to recognise that it will take time to get driver testing waiting times back to normal pre-Covid levels. The driving test creates particular difficulties, given the need for a tester and a test candidate to sit in close proximity in the same vehicle for a substantial period of time. Testers are also moving between vehicles provided by test candidates, which are not controllable work environments.

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.