Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on waiting times for driving tests in each testing centre; how many people are waiting for tests at each testing centre; what plans are in place to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38743/23]

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) and the specific information requested on each testing centre is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the first part of the question to the RSA 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 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, 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 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 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.