Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in light of the current shortage of accommodation for students attending third level colleges, consideration would be given to fast-tracking driving test applications for such students in order to assist them in this challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38690/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for 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 believe that the RSA operates a fair and transparent appointment scheduling process such that those who are eligible and have been waiting the longest are offered a test first, while those who fulfil the criteria for being a front-line worker can apply for a emergency test.

On the broader issue of delays, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. In response to these pressures, the Authority reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service earlier this year and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

This recruitment campaign is well underway and is being managed by the Authority. However, a campaign of this size takes time. It is expected that once these additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that agreed service levels resume and wait times begin to decline. I have been advised by the Authority that the first newly recruited testers should be deployed in late September.

The additional driver testers will be deployed across the driver testing service with a focus on the geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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383. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide details, in tabular form, of the current waiting times for driving tests in test centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38691/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driving Test service. Consequently, neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases.

On the broader issue of delays, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. In response to these pressures, the Authority reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service earlier this year and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

This recruitment campaign is well underway and is being managed by the Authority. However, a campaign of this size takes time. It is expected that once these additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that agreed service levels resume and wait times begin to decline. I have been advised by the Authority that the first newly recruited testers should be deployed in late September.

The additional driver testers will be deployed across the driver testing service with a focus on the geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline what action has been taken to alleviate long waiting times for driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38692/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). However, I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is working very closely with the RSA on addressing the issue of driver testing waiting times.

The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. In response to these pressures, earlier this year the RSA reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.

This recruitment is well underway and being managed by the RSA. However, a recruitment campaign of this size takes time. It is expected that once these additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that wait times begin to decline and agreed service levels ultimately resume. I have been advised by the RSA that the first newly recruited testers should be deployed from late September.

The additional driver testers will be deployed across the driver testing service with a focus on those geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.