Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the up-to-date position on driver test waiting times, in tabular form, in Cork, Skibbereen, Mallow, Killarney and Newcastlewest; the number of testers dedicated to each of these centres; the number of new testers allocated to these test centres in 2023; the number of driver testers currently undergoing training; when they will be available to commence tester duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55665/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new driver testers undertaking training this year; the number who have started tester duties; the number still in training; when they will be available to commence tester duties; the number of people yet to start training; when they will start training; the duration of the training in weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55666/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested on specific centres is held by the agency. I have therefore referred relevant parts of the questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

My Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers in March of this year. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to 205, which is more than double the 100 sanctioned testing posts in June 2022.

This recruitment is underway and I have been advised that the first tranche of new recruits were deployed in September. It is expected that before the end of the year there will be a net increase of approximately 42 driver testers and they will be allocated across the driver testing service with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.

The RSA estimate that the agreed service level of average wait times of 10 weeks will resume in mid-2024.