Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons waiting for a driver test; the number that are essential workers; the number waiting for driver theory tests in tabular form; and his plans to provide funding to ease the backlog once level 5 restrictions are eased. [5218/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Specific details on the number of persons awaiting a driver test and theory test are held by the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred this part of the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

My Department is in constant contact with the Road Safety Authority since the start of the pandemic regarding all of its services, the impact of Covid-19 on those services, and how they can best be maintained in the current circumstances.

While the service is limited during level 5 restrictions, the Road Safety Authority is examining ways of increasing the number of tests within health constraints with an eye to resuming wider testing after level 5. This includes increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the backlog.

Following discussions with the RSA, my Department has approved the hiring of a further 40 temporary driver testers for 22 months, and the process of recruitment is now underway.  However it will take some time for people to be selected and trained. These new hires will be in addition to the 36 temporary testers who I previously gave sanction to rehire during 2020.

These measures will help to increase testing capacity.  However, I would like to stress, that many of the issues impacting on the delivery of service are concerned with the throughput of centres themselves in light of the restrictions, rather than on the availability of staff.

My Department will continue to monitor and review any financial and other resource implications.