Nolan highlights 'unacceptable' wait time for driving tests

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has called for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to be brought before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications in the event there are not quantifiable and significant improvements in the length of time people are experiencing when applying for a driving test.

The RSA is the statutory body with extensive responsibilities in relation to road safety and driver licencing.

Deputy Nolan was speaking during a Dáil debate on the issue after she and her colleagues in the Rural Independent Group brought forward a private member’s motion calling on Minister for Transport to take immediate action to expedite the recruitment of additional driver testers (examiners) without further delay.

The motion also called for steps to be taken to ensure the development and implementation of a strategic plan that will lead to the achievement of the RSA's official target of a maximum ten-week wait for a driving test at every testing centre in the country by the end of 2023:

“The national average waiting time for a driving test has now reached 30.4 weeks, which is totally unacceptable,” said Deputy Nolan.

“Indeed, the shortest wait time nationally is in Longford, with an 18-week waiting period, which in itself is almost two months over the maximum target date set by the RSA. I know from recent experience that a person could be waiting as long as seven months for an appointment in Tullamore and eight months in Portlaoise.”

“This to my mind represents a clear breach of the service level agreement that government have with the RSA, who receive millions in state funding annually.”

“I asked today that the RSA be brought back to the Oireachtas in September if we do not see improvements because clearly people are not getting a service that is fit for purpose.”

“I have many constituents, particularly young people, who want to work, have to get to work or cannot take up apprenticeships because they have not yet passed the driving test and do not have a date for a test. It is totally unacceptable. It is still bedlam. Despite the small improvements, it is not good enough and does not cut it. The RSA is way behind where it should be.”

“There is a clear issue here, with this statutory State agency not being able to fulfil some of the most basic requirements regarding its operation.”