Paula Butterly
Ceist:159. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the opening of a new driving test centre in Drogheda. [2235/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 15 January 2026
Ceisteanna (159, 214)
Joanna Byrne
Ceist:214. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Transport to intervene and engage with the RSA and HSE to resolve the outstanding issues that are delaying the opening of Drogheda driving test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1250/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 214 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including the provision of test centres. Neither I nor my officials are involved in the service at an operational level.
However, I fully understand the frustration and disappointment people across the country feel while waiting to complete their driver test and it is vital that the public experience an efficient and dependable driver test service.
As the Deputy will be aware, since taking office as Minster responsible for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail, and Ports, reducing waiting times has been a key priority for me and I directed the RSA to produce and publish a service recovery plan to meet the 10-week average national waiting time target by September, which had been achieved.
This marked a significant improvement on the 27-week average wait time from April 2025.
The latest information available to me from the RSA indicates that the average national waiting time for a driving test was 10.6 weeks at the end of December.
There are now 30 test centres operating at or below the agreed Service Level Agreement target of 10 weeks. A further 26 centres remain above target, and it is important that the RSA continues to focus on reducing waiting times in those locations.
Throughout 2025, the RSA conducted more than 260,000 driving tests, a 3.4% increase on 2024 when approximately 250,000 tests were conducted.
I would note that shorter daylight hours during the winter months reduce testing capacity. To mitigate this, the RSA continues to offer additional testing through overtime, weekend work, and bank holiday operations.
To help address ongoing service delivery issues, in September 2024, the Department of Transport conveyed sanction for 70 additional driver testing posts on a permanent basis, bringing the permanent sanction to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022.
At the end of December, 196 testers were in place. The RSA is working to reach its full complement of 200 testers. I am advised that the next training course to fill vacancies is scheduled to begin in January, with offers to be issued in advance. Provided the recruitment process proceeds as expected, the Authority anticipates having approximately 200 testers shortly afterwards.
This will represent a significant increase on testers when compared to the beginning of 2025 when approximately 150 were available.
I would also highlight that, to manage demand effectively at national level, testers, although formally assigned to specific centres, are routinely deployed to other locations as required.
Some positive progress has been made with a new testing centre has been opened in Mitchelstown and it is expected that a new centre in Sandyford will be operational shortly, which should assist in reducing average wait times in those areas.
I am further informed by the Authority that the new test centre in Drogheda is at the final stages of preparation, and the assigned testers are presently deployed to a nearby centre in readiness for its opening while ensuring testing volumes continue to be managed effectively.
Finally, the driver testing booking system now makes available cancelled test slots for candidates to take up at short notice. I would encourage learner drivers awaiting a test to monitor this channel, which may provide an opportunity to book an earlier testing date.