Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driving testers who were let go by the RSA in 2022; the reason that a number of driving testers were let go given the long waiting lists for tests; the number of new driving testers employed in 2022; the number of testers employed by the RSA on 1 January 2022 and on 1 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1439/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by them.

I have therefore referred the Deputy's specific questions to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

I am aware of the significant backlog in the driver testing service, however, I would like to assure the Deputy that the RSA is endeavouring to manage the demand pressures and required resourcing. 

I am told that there has been an increase in application volumes with learners becoming eligible to take their driving test since the start of 2022.  This is a consequence of the economy once again reopening following the COVID pandemic.  Many learners who availed of increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test are now becoming eligible for their driving test, resulting in increased demand.

In order to alleviate the backlog in driver testing, the RSA conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the service.  This review recommended that the number of permanent driver testers employed by the RSA should be raised from 100 to 130. Following a successful recruitment campaign, the RSA has deployed the majority of the 30 candidates recruited across the driver testing service with a focus on those geographical areas with the longest waiting times.   

The RSA has assured me that they are keeping the situation under constant review and is in the process of setting out a plan for what is needed to continue reducing waiting times. I have asked the RSA to report back to my department on this plan and its implementation as soon as possible. If sanction requests for further increases in driver testers are received, my Department will evaluate them.