Almost 70,000 learner drivers across the country waiting for a test

Based on the RSA’s estimations for each driving test centre, just four out of 57 listed are currently within service level by having wait times of 10 weeks or less.

Almost 70,000 learner drivers across the country are waiting for a driving test, with some facing waits of more than eight months, new figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show.

Some 17,891 currently have a test date while 68,314 are waiting for a slot. 

The test centre in Wilton, Cork has the third-highest number of learners waiting at 4,505 with 1,158 scheduled.

Some 5,231 are waiting in Dún Laoghaire, while Tallaght in Dublin has the highest number waiting at 7,822.

Based on the RSA’s estimations for each driving test centre, just four out of 57 listed are currently within service level by having wait times of 10 weeks or less.

Some driving centres have improved, with Killarney in Kerry and Mallow in Cork coming down from a wait of over six months in May to a current wait time of about 10 weeks.

Test centres in Castlebar and Wexford have the lowest waiting time, both at just over eight weeks.

Limerick learners currently face a wait of up to 15 weeks, while those in Tralee and Waterford will be waiting up to 18 weeks.

Those waiting for a test at Wilton fare much worse with a wait of over 27 weeks, the fourth-highest, meaning a slot before August is currently unlikely.

While some centres have had reduced waiting times since the hiring of additional driving testers, Wilton’s waiting time has increased by three weeks since May, while Thurles in Tipperary now has a wait of 16 weeks compared to just 10 in May.

Although down by 11 weeks since May, Dún Laoghaire has the highest wait time at just over 35 weeks, meaning learners there will be waiting until the end of September for a test. 

Tallaght has the second highest wait time of 30 weeks.

The figures of those awaiting a test slot were provided to Cork Labour TD Seán Sherlock who described the waits as “extraordinary, once again”.

“The wait is simply too long for those who need a driving test and the idea that applicants should apply to other sites doesn’t hold up to reality. 

"We need to see the additional driver testers and sites brought back on stream much, much faster than is currently happening.

“At this rate, we will not clear the backlog until well the end of 2024 or even beyond. Those awaiting a test are now in limbo,” he said.

Juliet O’Connell, a councillor in Dún Laoghaire, said wait times needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency a year ago.

“This chronic level of neglect is not the message to give young people,” she said.