Five driving test centres across Ireland will operate without dedicated testers until at least September, the Road Safety Authority has revealed, as more than 100,000 learner drivers await invitations to book their tests.
The centres in Kilrush and Shannon in Co Clare, Ballincollig in Co Cork, Buncrana in Co Donegal, and Clifden in Co Galway currently have no assigned testers and will continue without dedicated staff through the summer months.
Speaking at a Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee hearing, RSA CEO Sam Waide apologised for the delays facing learner drivers across the country. “I want to acknowledge that, and to apologise to you and your constituents for that frustration from the outset,” Waide said. “This is not a situation any of us consider acceptable.”
The RSA figures show that 102,130 learner drivers are currently waiting to receive an invitation to book their driving test, with only 19,461 scheduled to take tests in the coming weeks. The national average waiting time to receive a test invitation has reached 20.6 weeks.
Despite having no dedicated testers, all five affected centres can still operate driving tests at reduced capacity, as testers can be deployed across multiple sites based on regional demand and existing backlogs.
The authority currently employs 152 driver testers nationwide but has committed to expanding this number significantly. Plans include increasing staff to 182 by the end of July and reaching 200 testers by early September.
To address the crisis, the RSA has opened 22,046 driver testing slots this month, compared to 17,391 in April. The organisation also plans to increase dedicated testers at 22 testing centres and establish new facilities in Co Louth and south Dublin.
Waide emphasised that driving represents more than convenience for many Irish people. “For many people driving is not a luxury,” he said. “It’s a requirement for employment, education and caring responsibilities.”
The RSA has set an ambitious target to reduce average waiting times to 10 weeks or lower by early September 2025. “This isn’t just a target – it’s a national imperative – and one the RSA is fully committed to delivering,” Waide stated.
The authority’s strategy includes accelerated training programmes for new testers using additional training facilities, along with revised training approaches that enable earlier deployment of new staff to testing centres across the country.