Clarity needed on when driving tests will resume

682 people in Cavan-Monaghan wait for driving test, while 972 waiting to take their test in Meath

Latest figures show that almost 700 people in Cavan and Monaghan are on the waiting list for driving tests, prompting one local TD to call for clarity on when testing will resume.

for Cavan-Monaghan

has called on the Minister for Transport to state when drivers can expect to see testing services back in operation.

New figures obtained by Deputy Niamh Smyth show 471 people in Cavan are waiting to schedule their driving test, while in Monaghan the figure stands at 211. In Meath, the test centre in Navan has 972 people waiting to schedule a test.

“If testing does not commence sooner rather than later it will have a detrimental impact on those who are learning to drive with a view to travelling to work without an accompanying driver. There appears to be little clarity from the Minister on an exact plan as to how the services will begin again.

“In rural communities access to public transport is non-existent. For the 682 people in my constituency waiting to take their test this means their jobs, education, or social life is on pause until a fully licenced driver can accompany them, or they sit and pass their driving test.

Unacceptable

The Fianna Fáil deputy called on the Minister for Transport to bring forward more details on the plans for re-opening driving test centres across the country.

"There are people waiting to sit tests and now fear they won’t get to do this due to a backlog in the coming months

“It is unacceptable to suspend testing for months and for the Minister to have no detailed plan in place as to how the Department will cope with the backlog. We all understand the importance of social distancing, but we need a plan to be put in place. In April, the Government announced a four-month extension to learner permits which were due to expire between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020.

“I would appeal to the Minister to extend any expiring learner permits until such a time that driving tests can be taken,” concluded Smyth.