Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that waiting times for driving tests in Dublin currently range from approximately four to eight months; what action is being taken by his Department to ensure waiting times are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20375/23]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has considered opening further driving test centres to address the demand and delays currently experienced; if an additional testing centre for the Dublin area has been considered; if so, the outcome of the consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20376/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. 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 Approved Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.

The Authority has reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service to meet demand and following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department has 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 which have been fully deployed since the 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. The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there have been any developments on reducing the unacceptable delays for driving test applicants and how the plans for the recruitment of additional testers are progressing, given that currently the delays are negatively impacting on some applicants' employment appointments and are inhibiting them from being offered positions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20395/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service.  This includes test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred the specific part of Deputy's 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

On the broader issue of driver testing delays, 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 Approved Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.

The Authority has reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service to meet demand and following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department has 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 which have been fully deployed since the 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. The additional testers will be assigned to fill current vacancies and otherwise allocated to centres with the highest demand for tests. The recruitment campaign for the posts has already been commenced by the Authority.