Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40834/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for a driving test; and the number of persons waiting for a theory test in County Cork by test centre in tabular form. [40880/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The driving test and driver theory test are the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.

The information requested is held by the Authority and this question 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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average waiting time for a driving test in Ballincollig and Sarsfield Road test centres in Cork; and the number of persons waiting for less than three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and over 24 months, respectively in tabular form. [40881/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.

The information requested is held by the Authority and this question 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.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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260. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average waiting time for a theory test in Ballincollig and Sarsfield Road test centres in Cork; and the number of persons waiting for less than three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and over 24 months, respectively in tabular form. [40882/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The driver theory test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.

The information requested is held by the Authority and this question 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.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The driving test and theory test are the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to meet the growing demand for driver theory tests and driver tests.

An additional 37 new driver testers began live testing in June/July on a temporary basis and an extra 10 temporary test centres have been opened. These are needed because space in some existing centres cannot accommodate many of the additional driver testers and comply with social distancing requirements.

Sanction has recently been received for the recruitment of a further 40 temporary driver testers who will commence testing in due course. 

The possibility of increasing the number of tests being conducted each day, per driver tester, from six to seven is also being examined.

The driver testing operations of the Road Safety Authority have begun to fully reopen, on a gradual basis, as additional capacity comes on stream.

The Driver Theory Test (DTT) is currently providing 25,000 test appointments per month across its network of physical centres and work is underway to gradually increase this capacity to 50,000 tests per month. The service provider has sourced an additional 40 temporary team members to support the increase in capacity to 50,000 in centre appointments.

Currently the Driver Theory Test service is providing up to 10,000 tests per month online. These are across all categories with the vast majority being car and motor bike tests. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.

It should be noted that 1 in 6 customers are failing to show up for their Driver Theory Test. This puts an unnecessary strain on the service and further complicates matters for the many people who are awaiting a test, who will ultimately be delayed as a result. 

The Government will continue to be guided by public health advice on the safe provision of services and, in conjunction with the RSA, continues to keep the situation under review to ensure that every possible measure is being put in place so that the maximum number of customers can be served while adhering to public health requirements.