Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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304. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made in recruiting driver testers and recruiting NCT testers; if he is aware that those called for a test cannot now use a car which is waiting for its NCT; and if he has initiatives planned to ease the situation. [17510/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The operation of the National Driving Test Service and the National Car Testing Service are the statutory responsibilities of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department has been working closely with the RSA to support their efforts to addresses the challenges they face.

On driver testing, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which is up 28% on 2021 figures. This increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include an increase in learner permits in circulation, increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.

The Authority has reviewed the demand and capacity of the driver testing service and, following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department has now given approval for the recruitment of up to 75 driver testers. This is in addition to the 30 testers who were previously sanctioned in July 2022 and have been fully deployed since end of March 2023. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

It is expected that once these additional 75 driver testers are recruited, trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that it will start to reduce from October 2023 and agreed service levels should resume by early to mid 2024.

In respect of the NCT, I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet the high demand for tests and the ensuing delays for vehicle owners. My officials continue to meet weekly with the Authority, to monitor ongoing progress in reducing test delays and to ensure every possible action is being taken to reinstate an average waiting period of 12 days by end June, as well as supporting all appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance.

There has been some progress in addressing the long-term staffing issues behind this backlog. 110 inspectors were recruited in 2022 (including 44 recruited from outside the EEA). Recruitment of a further 55 qualified vehicle inspectors is ongoing, with a cohort of 595 testers currently in place. A number of other measures to provide additional capacity at test centres have been in place, including increased staff overtime and the temporary transfer of testers from the NCTS contractor’s Spanish operation for a period of three months. Testers are assigned to the test centres with the most significant delays. The RSA and their contractor have committed to continuing to seek to recruit additional testers on a urgent basis. 

I am informed that customers who have a driving test booked and are unable to get an appointment at their chosen NCT centre beforehand, can call the NCT on 01 4135992 to apply for a prioritised appointment. The RSA has assured me that the NCT will treat such as cases as priorities.