Plan to cut driving tests backlog

The Government is to enact a three-point plan to cut the huge backlog of people waiting to sit driving tests, it was confirmed today.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen said new testers would be recruited, existing staff urged to do more and some exams would be outsourced in a bid to reduce the 129,153 on waiting lists across the country.

Mr Cullen said he had discussed the matter with cabinet colleagues, trade unions and people waiting to sit their test before putting forward proposals which he believed to be deliverable, fair and effective.

“The objective is to reduce waiting times for driving tests from months to weeks,” he told the Society of Irish Motor Industry.

“For road safety and reduced insurance cost to young drivers, we need to break the back of this problem.

“The pack that I propose is three-fold – namely incentivise existing testers, recruit additional testers and temporarily outsource a set number of tests for a set period of time. Each of these measures is designed with one objective in mind – to end the backlog.”

Mr Cullen said the public has a right to expect a decent level of service, one that meets their needs.

“Any fair-minded assessment of the current figures show that this is not the case,” he said.

“I believe that the current driver-testing backlog is intolerable.

“It is unacceptable from a customer service point of view that test applicants can find themselves waiting up to 60 weeks for a test date.”

The minister said any measures the Government can take to improve road safety deserves consideration.

“We have all watched in horror, the weekend past in particular, the tragedy that road deaths visits on families, friends and communities,” he said.

“It is undeniable that there are some concerns regarding the package which I have outlined. But, let me be clear. Despite any concerns unions may have in relation to the temporary outsourcing aspect of the package, their members’ terms and conditions will not be adversely affected.

“I would urge everyone concerned to accept this proposal so that we can push on and put in place measures that will make a positive contribution to road safety.”