Red flag for driving test times

Wait times for driving tests were shown the red flag by county councillors at their monthly meeting of Cavan County Council last week.

Raising the motion, Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reilly revealed: "I had a call recently from a young driver who lives in rural Ireland and depends on private transport to get him to college and he depends on his job to pay for college and help with the cost of running his car. He travels 15km to his job every day that he is working. He applied for his driving test in early January and was placed on a waiting list with no indication of when he may be called for a driving test.

“Recently, he was stopped by the gardai and he was fined €80 and two penalty points were added to his licence for not having an accompanying adult with a full licence with him. He was also told that, if he is caught again, his car will be seized and impounded - and he accepts that. He just wants to sit his test and, according to him, he has everyone around him tortured to accompany him and help him out."

She pointed to figures recently revealed in the Dáil, which showed there are currently 2,201 outstanding driving test applications in County Cavan, compared to 982 in Monaghan and 1,182 in Longford. In Cavan, 767 people are waiting to hear back, 672 applications have been 'paused', 464 have been categorised as 'not eligible' and 298 are scheduled. In Monaghan there are 322 people waiting, 333 paused, 201 ineligible and 126 scheduled.

Cllr O’Reilly searched the RSA website, which she outlined also states not to contact the RSA if you are waiting for a driving test date and they will be in touch by email within eight to 10 weeks.

“My friend was waiting 18 weeks, and if he was to wait much longer, his job and his college could be under substantial threat.”

Drivers are now waiting over 18 weeks for an invitation to do a driving test in Cavan with a further wait to sit the actual test date.

“Compare this with Monaghan where drivers wait an average of 10 weeks. The longest wait for a driving test in the country is in Dun Laoghaire where the waiting time can be more than 46 weeks,” highlighted Cllr O’Reilly by way of comparison.

She proposed the Council write to the relevant authority asking what measures are being put in place to address the backlog, and for a timeline of when additional testers will be in place.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick stated he knew a young driver who was in the same situation having been caught by the gardaí while attempting to drive to work on a provisional licence.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Patricia Walsh outlined two of her grandchildren are in the same predicament.

Cllr Sarah O’Reilly requested clarity on whether people from outside the county are applying for a driving test in Cavan due to its shorter wait time, deeming this should not be allowed.