Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of people currently on a waiting list for a driving test in north Tipperary; on average, how long it takes to sit a test from the date that the applicant first applies for a test with the RSA; the work that is being undertaken by the RSA to cut these waiting lists; whether more testers being hired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44655/23]

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 forthe National Driving Test service. This includes test applications, scheduling matters and the data regarding waiting list times. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply on the specific information requested. 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 RSA reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service and following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval in March for the recruitment of up to 75 driver testers. I have been advised that the first tranche of new recruits were deployed in September, and we are already seeing a small reduction in the national waiting time for invitation to test. As more new recruits are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will continue to decline and the RSA estimate that the agreed service levels of average wait times of 10 weeks will resume in mid-2024.