Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for the delays in driver testing centres across the country; the measures being taken to address these delays; the budgetary measures being taken in this regard; to further explain the reasons there are no job vacancies for RSA driving instructors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2215/25]
View answer145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of the delays for first tests and for retests at the Dún Laoghaire test centre; the reasons for the delays; the measures being taken locally to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2216/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days.
Pending this detailed reply the Deputy may also 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: https://data.cso.ie/product/RSADTS
To address the issue of driver testing delays, 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, my officials have requested that a plan is put in place to restore waiting times to 10 weeks as soon as possible. I understand that recruitment is well underway and additional capacity will enter the service in the coming months, helping to progressively reduce waiting times.
Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's) are not employees of the Authority, but entirely independent operators. To register as an ADI and qualify for a permit, each potential instructor must undertake the 3 stage process to qualify as an instructor or demonstrate that existing qualifications/experience are adequate to meet the ADI standard. Following this process, an ADI must be listed on the Road Safety Authority’s 'Register of Approved Driving Instructors' and must display an Approved Driving Instructor permit.
