Almost 1,500 waiting on driving tests in County Cavan

By Gemma Good

Learner drivers in County Cavan face some of the longest waits in the country to sit their driving tests - with the Cavan test centre ranked 20 out of 62 centres nationwide in terms of waiting times.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has reported there were 96,380 people nationally waiting to receive their driving test on June 23.

This figure includes 1,468 people from County Cavan; while 591 people in neighbouring County Monaghan have applied for a test.

The majority of people waiting for a test in Co Cavan are under the age of 20 years.

Speaking on the issue, driving instructor James Mooney called for more testers to be employed on the ground. “Waiting lists are pretty extreme here in Cavan,” he said.

Cavan has got a top of the range driving test centre, however James feels it is not operating to its full potential given there is just one driving tester in Cavan; although the RSA states there are two.

With one examiner testing six people per day, it would take 245 days to clear Cavan’s current backlog, assuming applicants pass their test first time. With an average pass rate of only 55%, it could take well over a year.

The RSA (Road Safety Authority) has allocated 40 new testers to driving test centres across the country to clear the backlog, one of which was appointed to Cavan but has not yet taken up the role.

“A new tester came on board a couple of weeks ago,” James said.

“Whether it’s through sickness or transfer to somewhere else, there’s no sign of them.”

The RSA has said some tests have to be cancelled for reasons including driving instructors taking sick leave (see full statement below).

James called on the RSA and the Department of Transport to provide more personnel for testing centres.

“You can’t blame the tester on the ground,” he said.

“You would think, when someone is out sick or if someone is off for some time, a relief tester would be brought in but it’s not happening,” continued the instructor.

Many driving tests, which were scheduled to take place, have been cancelled. James explained that one of his clients, who is an essential worker, has been waiting six months for a driving test. This learner had their test cancelled last week because no driving tester was available.

Only essential workers can complete their Essential Driver Training (ETD) and apply for their driving test at present, which James finds “strange” at this stage in the pandemic.

“Is an essential worker less contagious than a non-essential worker?” he asked.

He highlighted the situation of students and those who are unemployed.“If they get a full licence, they’re more employable and students need a full licence to drive to college.

“It’s tough on young people at the moment, everybody needs a driver’s licence, it doesn’t matter whether you’re essential or non-essential.”

To help relieve the backlog in testing, James suggested that testing continue until later in the evening, with testing currently finishing at 3.30pm in the afternoon.

“The system can run better for the public, more personnel could be taken on, and this time of the year could more tests not be offered?”

Theory tests

The Driver Theory Test service resumed on June 8 last. It currently has a monthly maximum capacity of 25,000 people, with this set to increase.

There are over 120,000 people currently waiting on a theory test in Ireland.

Although efforts were made to convert the theory test to an online platform, James said “it wasn’t a great success.”

“People had to have certain types of computers and a lot of final checks cut people off and the test was cancelled.”

James is aware of a case in which an individual had their theory test cancelled seven times.

“It’s totally unacceptable at this stage,” he lamented.

He explained that you must complete your theory test and then go to the NDLS office to get your learner permit before you can apply for a driving test.

Asked if figures for driving test waiting lists would be higher if theory tests were going ahead as scheduled, James said: “Very much so, it’s to their [the RSA’s] benefit to not let them come through.

“The Road Safety Authority could operate in a better manner in relation to the public of the country,” James contended.

He called for better communication between driving instructors and the RSA.

“You get a generic reply the whole time.

“It’s an absolute disgrace, not only here in Cavan, but in every test centre in the country.”

To combat this problem, the Driving Instructor Union of Ireland was formed last August, of which James is a member.

“The Union was set up for the betterment of driving instructors and the public of Ireland.

“We want a system where we get listened to by the RSA.”

There are over 100 members in the union countrywide, however the RSA won’t recognise the organisation.

“The system could run a lot smoother if we all put our heads together,” James argued.

Katrina Fay is also a driving instructor in County Cavan. “A mess is an understatement,” she said of the current situation.

She also feels the tests need to be opened up to all workers, in particular making a case for mothers who cannot start their lessons.

“It’s wrong, you need to get your kids, your groceries and you need to get to school, but you’re not an essential worker.

“Where’s the fine line between what is essential?” she asked.

While the situation is chaotic at the minute, Katrina predicts it will worsen as time goes on with theory tests not long after resuming.

“It’s going to make the RSA look good, if they hold back releasing anyone else with theory tests and learner permits, it will clear the backlog.

“It’s only pushing it down the line.”

She wondered why driving instruction could resume on May 10, but theory tests only resumed last month with a limited capacity.

“There’s not a theory test to be got in the country,” she said.

“What is the difference between sitting in a cubicle on a laptop as opposed to me sitting in a car with someone for an hour?” asked Katrina.

‘Let-down’

Bill O’Hanlon has been waiting for his driving test for six months, having first applied for a date in January. He finally received a test date for last Tuesday (June 29) at 10.50am. The Killeshandra man said he was “fairly hyped up” to do the test. At 8am Tuesday morning, an email hit his inbox to say the test was cancelled.

“It was a bit of a let-down.

His driving test has not yet been rescheduled, and Bill anticipates he will go back on the waiting list.

“It’s understandable that they had to cancel it if one of the examiners was sick.The frustration comes from the lack of communication.”

RSA response

A spokesperson for the RSA, responding to The Anglo-Celt, confirmed that driving tests are cancelled usually due to unexpected absences by testers for reasons including illness.

He said: "In recent times, there would have been some test cancellations in Cavan due to a staff member leaving the service.

"There had been three driver testers in the Cavan test centre, there are now two. In a future intake of driver testers, we will be looking to assign an extra driver tester to the Cavan test centre."

In relation to the RSA recognising the Driver Instructor Union, as raised by James, the spokesperson remarked: "The RSA does not employ driving instructors, they are sole independent traders, so recognising a particular union does not arise. For the purpose of feedback and engagement, the RSA and Approved Driving Instructors have a Stakeholders Forum in place and it is open to any ADI to become a member of the Forum."