Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for evidence of proactive steps being taken to improve the long driving test waiting times at Dublin-area testing centres; and the average waiting times per month from January 2024 through April 2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [22655/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the National Driver Testing Service and the specific information on waiting times for January 2024 through April 2025 are held by them. I have therefore referred part of the Deputy's 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.

Pending this response, I acknowledge that the current waiting times for driving tests, including in the Dublin area, are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputy that measures have been taken to address the issue. I met with the RSA last week to discuss this issue and instructed the Authority to return in two weeks with sustainable proposals which will provide a faster resumption to the service level agreement of 10-weeks.

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.The recruitment process is underway, with the first tranche of new testers now being deployed into service. As additional testers enter the system, testing capacity will increase and progress should be seen on reducing waiting times in the months ahead.As a condition of the sanction given in September, the RSA was required to put a plan in place to restore the 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. When this plan was first put forward by the RSA, it envisaged a return to the target by November 2025. This is not acceptable given the level of delays already being suffered by learner drivers. I have instructed the RSA to review the plan and identify further measures that will bring forward the date for achieving the target.

The Deputy may wish to know that driver testing is offered on Saturdays where driver testers are available to do overtime and there are also additional morning and evening test slots offered where daylight allows. This has been the case since the current backlog in driving tests started to build up.

The driver testing booking system has also been updated to allow for any unused test slots to be made available for candidates to take up at short notice. The RSA now make these appointments available for candidates to book on the MyRoadSafety portal.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on the commitment given by the RSA to open a new driving test centre in south Dublin; if a location has been selected; the process for selecting a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22643/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes the location and provision of test centres.I have therefore referred the Deputy's 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.