Driver Test
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

The RSA has indicated that overtime and bank holiday testing will continue throughout the course of this year. As the hour changes later this month, we can look at whether there is potential to do that further.
In relation to the assignment of those new testers who will be going to the Sandyford centre, I will ask that specific question as to whether they can be used in the interim period. I know there is a training element where they are at the moment. I will certainly check that. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. He has done a really good job on this, and I assure Deputy Ward that he has met with the RSA senior management regularly. We were able to pull this back nationally to about ten weeks and now it is up to 11.5 weeks, so we have to watch that trend. There has been a significant increase in applications nationwide, with about 25% more applications received by the end of February compared with the same period last year. We also see an increase in applications across the board, but there has specifically been a rise in demand for tests from holders of a third or subsequent learner permit. I think that is on foot of the changes the Government will bring forward. That in itself is to be welcomed but it certainly puts more pressure on the system.
In summation, I will raise these matters directly with the RSA on the Deputy's behalf. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, tomorrow specifically about this to see what focus can be given, particularly for this centre, and - again, not in any way to criticise the good work that has been done by those who are providing the tests - why this centre is so out of kilter with the national average. That needs to be looked at and addressed, and I will revert directly to the Deputy.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18