Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait eight months for her full driving licence test. [20832/23]

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.

The RSA operates a fair and transparent appointment scheduling process, consequently, I understand that those who are eligible and have been waiting the longest are offered a test first. I would like to also assure you that the Authority is endeavouring to eliminate the Driver Testing backlog.

Urgent tests are only available to applicants who are employed by the HSE, a private hospital or the emergency services where the candidate would need to drive as part of their job (not including commuting to their place of work). Information on who can apply for an emergency test is available at www.rsa.ie/services/learner-drivers/the-driving-test/faqs.