Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures put in place to reduce current waiting times for driving tests (details supplied). [10741/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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339. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the excessive waiting times experienced by people trying to get their driving licenses; if he will instruct his Department to take the necessary steps to cut waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11958/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 339 together.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters.

Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days.

On the issue of delays in obtaining a driving test more generally, I acknowledge that current waiting times are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputies that measures have been taken to address the issue.

To support the RSA in increasing testing capacity and improving service delivery, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022.

As a condition of sanction, the RSA was required to put a plan in place to restore the 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. I understand that recruitment is well underway, with offers being made to successful candidates. The first tranche of new testers started their training this month. As additional testers progressively enter the system and increase testing capacity, I expect that we will begin to see progress on reducing waiting times in the months ahead.

The Deputies may wish to note that the RSA publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and distribution of testing capacity by test centre. This information is available at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/ROA31

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to open additional driving test centres in South Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Testing Service, including the provision of test centres and their locations.

As such, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.