'Ridiculous' temporary driving tester contracts not renewed despite lengthy wait times

At the end of May 2024, there were 19,197 people scheduled to sit a driving test in the next four weeks, while 60,922 learner drivers were waiting to receive an invitation to book their test.

Contracts for temporary driving testers are not renewed because the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is “not permitted to do so”, despite the high numbers of people waiting for a test.

RSA chief executive Sam Waide told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) it had been sanctioned from the Department of Transport to recruit additional temporary testers to help clear backlogs but had to submit a business case to the department to increase the headcount further.