75 additional driver testers announced to tackle driving test backlog
Seventy-five additional driver testers are to be hired by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to tackle the huge backlog in the Driving Tester Service.
This increase will bring the potential total number of testers to over 200.
The announcement was made by Minister for Transport, Mr Eamon Ryan T.D. and the Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, Mr Jack Chambers T.D.
This is in addition to the 30 extra testers who were previously sanctioned in July 2022 and have been fully deployed since end of March 2023.
The testers will be recruited through open competition, and it is expected that new testers will be trained and ready to work from October of this year.
With these new testers in place, customers will see improvements in their waiting times and the RSA expect the backlog of applicants to be returned to target customer service levels by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Demand for driving tests is now at unprecedented levels, applications in 2022 were 28% higher than 2021 levels and 27% up on 2018 pre COVID-19 pandemic levels.
The current demand for driving tests has a number of contributory factors, including: an increase in application volumes, with more learners applying for and becoming eligible to take their driving test since the start of 2022; increased capacity and take up of the Driver Theory Test; and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors’ and their capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.
Speaking today, Minister Ryan said –
“I am delighted to confirm that the RSA has received sanction to hire up to 75 additional driver testers to address the backlog that has arisen due to unprecedented demand in the driver testing service."
Minister of State Chambers said –
“This approval for new testers for the RSA is a positive and proactive response to an ongoing problem within the Driver Testing Service across the state. By increasing the number of driver testers, the RSA can provide the testing service they are committed to delivering and a quality service each customer deserves. I would like to thank the public who have been patient while we manage these demand pressures on the service."
Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority welcomed the announcement.