Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
298. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure that reported improvements in national driving-test waiting times accurately reflect waiting times across all licence categories, including commercial drivers. [5246/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service.
Since taking office, reducing driver test waiting times has been a key priority for me. To that end in May 2025 I directed the RSA to produce and publish a service recovery plan to meet the 10-week average national waiting time target by September 2025, which the RSA achieved. In Q4 2025 there was a small increase in average wait times. In response to this increase I instructed the RSA to resume providing my Department a fortnightly update on the performance of the driver testing service. In that regard, 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. This marks a significant improvement on the 27-week average wait time in April 2025.
In line with other public bodies the RSA is subject to the Code of Practice on the Governance of State Bodies. In that regard, an oversight agreement is in place between my Department and the RSA which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the RSA. As part of this oversight structure my Department holds four oversight meetings - one per quarter - annually with the RSA where the RSA reports on all areas of its work, including in relation to the driver testing service.
These quarterly meetings are complemented by monthly operational updates for all of the RSA's services and significant projects, which my officials review and interrogate.
