Brennan: motorists must be patient about tests

The Minister for Transport is calling on motorists seeking driving tests to be patient.

Seamus Brennan has told the Dail the current number of applicants and the backlog at the centre in Ballina is unprecedented.

Some drivers are waiting up to 23 weeks.

The Minister says special measures to alleviate the problem are being considered.

"I'm considering, in consultation with the Minster for Finance, what additional measures can be taken to enable tests to be offered in the shortest possible time," he said.

"Such measures are likely to include additional overtime hours, to allow tests to take place outside normal working hours, to take tests on Saturday and to recruit retired testers."