More driving testers must be hired urgently to help clear the massive backlog of driving tests in Ireland, says Donegal TD Pearse Doherty.
2,122 people are waiting on a driving test date in Donegal. Just 283 (13% of applicants) have received a test date in the county.
Figures released to Sinn Féin show over 105,000 people are still waiting to sit their test nationally.
Deputy Pearse Doherty said: “At the Oireachtas Transport Committee in December, the Chairperson of the RSA, Liz O’Donnell, said; ‘in October the RSA made a submission to the Department for the recruitment of 80 extra driver testers, and I am hopeful that that will be approved soon’.
“Almost one year on, figures released to Sinn Féin show just 37 extra driving testers are now in place.
“This comes at a time when 105,480 people are waiting to sit a driving test across the state. It’s absolutely scandalous.
“The problem is particularly bad in Donegal where 2,122 people are waiting on a driving test.”
Deputy Doherty said the delay is affecting young people the most. He has claimed that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has failed to address the matter fully.
Deputy Doherty said: “Minister Ryan seems to have been asleep at the wheel for most of the past year. He has shown no interest in resolving this issue and has made a bad situation much worse.
“Meanwhile students starting college or employees trying to get to work are facing huge problems without their driving licence.
“It’s predominantly young people affected by these delays, which is having a massive impact on their lives. Young people deserve better.
“Young people in Donegal and in other counties have sent me messages to tell me how difficult it is to get insurance cover, and when they do get cover, they often have to pay exorbitant premiums which they can’t afford. The delays in getting dates for tests means that learner drivers are paying higher insurance premiums for longer.
“Minister Ryan needs to explain why half the driving testers requested by the RSA almost one year ago, are still not in place.
“The Minister needs to increase driving testing and theory testing capacity immediately to clear these waiting lists.
“This should include the fast-track recruitment of staff, longer opening hours, and the establishment of pop-up centres in the areas with the longest waiting lists.”
