Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting times for driving tests and theory tests in County Cork; the number of people on each waiting list; and to detail the measures being taken by his Department to reduce the waiting times. [37655/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the detailed information requested relating to County Cork 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 is not received within 10 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 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.