Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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307. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting list for driving tests in each centre across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30431/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the question 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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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308. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting list for the driver theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30432/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The operation of the national driving theory test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the question 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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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309. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting list for motorbike practical tests in each centre across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30433/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The operation of the motorbike practical test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred the question 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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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310. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that he is taking to reduce the waiting list for driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30434/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Due to Covid 19 and resulting lockdowns, driver testing services were suspended or curtailed for periods throughout 2020 and 2021. This resulted in significant backlogs developing.

When restrictions permitted, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and their contractors worked hard to deliver these services safely, and to reduce the backlogs and restore waiting times to pre-pandemic levels.

To meet the demand for tests, approval has been given to significantly increase the capacity of the service through the recruitment and extension of a number of existing driver tester contracts. This, and the introduction of a new booking system for tests, have had a noticeable impact on reducing Covid waiting list backlogs.

Pre-pandemic the target for average wait time for a driving test was ten weeks, although on the immediate eve of the pandemic, the actual waiting time was around six and a half weeks. This increased to 25 weeks during the pandemic. With the improving public health situation, the national average waiting time is once again six weeks. 

The RSA continues to focus on the small number of centres with longer than average waiting times to provide extra capacity and reduce waiting times further.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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311. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that he is taking to reduce the waiting list for driver theory tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30435/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Due to Covid 19 and resulting lockdowns, theory testing services were suspended or curtailed for periods throughout 2020 and 2021. This resulted in significant backlogs developing.

When restrictions permitted, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and its contractors worked hard to deliver these services safely, and to reduce the backlogs and restore waiting times to pre-pandemic levels.

A "super capacity" initiative was introduced which significantly increased capacity.  The number of tests provided increased from an average pre Covid 19 level of 15,000 up to 50,000 appointments per month. This was introduced in July 2021 for a three-month period to tackle the backlog that had built up.  

I understand that waiting times for Driver Theory Tests are now back to normal service levels. 

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that he is taking to reduce the waiting list for motorbike practical tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30436/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the operation of motorcycle tests.

Due to Covid 19 and resulting lockdowns, testing services were suspended or curtailed for periods throughout 2020 and 2021. This resulted in significant backlogs developing.

When restrictions permitted, the RSA and their contractors worked hard to deliver these services safely, and to reduce the backlogs and restore waiting times to pre-pandemic levels.

To meet the demand for tests, approval has been given to significantly increase the capacity of the service through the recruitment and extension of a number of existing driver tester contracts. This, and the introduction of a new booking system for tests, have had a noticeable impact on reducing Covid waiting list backlogs.