Labour TD calls for drivers to resit theory test every 10 years

Labour TD for Dublin South West Ciaran Ahern. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA

Drivers should have to resit a theory test every time their licence is up for renewal, the Labour Party has said.

Ciarán Ahern, Labour’s transport spokesperson, said there is “definitely a case to be made for refresher courses” for drivers every 10 years, to ensure they are familiar with the rules of the road.

Speaking to reporters at Leinster House on Tuesday, he said: “In any other part of your professional life, you’re expected to do continuous professional development to ensure you’re on top of changes to the law, changes to practice and I don’t see why that doesn’t apply when it comes to driving as well, given the number of deaths and serious (injuries) on our roads.”

Mr Ahern cited changes to speed limits on rural local roads and changes to the meaning of the rural speed limit sign, asking is everyone "going to be au fait with what they mean?"

Asked if this meant people would be unable to renew their licence if they failed a theory test, Mr Ahern said: "Obviously that would have serious practical implications, but we would have to seriously consider that".

“I mean, if you don’t know the rules of the road, if you can’t prove that you know them, should you be driving at all? That’s a serious question.

“We have serious issues with bad driving on our roads, with large numbers of deaths on our roads and if we don’t get serious about enforcement and ensuring that people understand the rules then how do you change anything? There have to be consequences to these things.” 

In 2024, a total of 174 people died on Irish roads in 160 fatal collisions while the year previously there were 181 deaths in 170 collisions.

So far in 2025, there have been 24 road fatalities across the country, of which 14 were drivers. A further six were pedestrians, while one was a passenger.

The requirement to pass a driving test came into force for new applicants in 1964.

However, following a significant backlog in the late 1970s, thousands of applicants were given driving licences without passing the practical test in what was described as an ‘amnesty’ to alleviate pressure on the system.

Asked if people who accessed amnesty driving licences should be forced to take driving tests, Mr Ahern said it was an interesting question.

“I mean, my dad is one of those. Anyone who drives a car needs to be sure that they can do so safely. That’s all we're asking here.

“Whether or not it comes down to actually taking a driving test or taking a new theory test, I do think we have to have a regime in place that people can drive safely, that vulnerable users of the road can feel safe on the road. At the moment, it isn’t that way.” 

Mr Ahern said it would not aim to penalise people, but individuals driving cars needed to be aware of people around them.

He said Labour was suggesting a “practical means” to improve driving standards across the country, with Mr Ahern saying it had significantly deteriorated since the pandemic.

“I think at the very least, you should carry out a refresher course before your licence is granted,” he said.

Driving test backlog

Mr Ahern said some of the issues around road safety are linked to delays with driving tests.

“There’s 68,000 people waiting for driving tests. The average waiting time is 21 weeks. The Government’s aim is to get that down to 10 weeks.

“But despite having given permission to hire additional testers, it doesn’t seem that they’ve come on stream yet, and waiting lists are just getting worse year on year.”

He acknowledged there was already a lack of capacity within the driving-test system for normal tests, but said investment should be made to allow for the so-called refresher courses.

Mr Ahern’s suggestion comes after former junior transport minister, James Lawless, called for the introduction of retraining courses for drivers who repeatedly commit traffic offences.