The Road Safety Authority says it remains on track to achieve its target of 10-week driving test wait times by September, following steady improvements in recent months.
National average waiting times have dropped to 14.1 weeks as of late July, down from a peak of 27 weeks in April. The RSA attributes this progress to a targeted action plan including extended testing hours and accelerated training of new testers.
The authority currently employs 144 permanent testers and plans to increase this to 200 by November. Chief Operating Officer Brendan Walsh acknowledged the importance of driving tests for “work, education, and independence,” saying the RSA is working to ensure fair and timely access.
However, the Irish Road Haulage Association has criticized the RSA for allegedly “massaging” car test figures by moving testers away from commercial vehicle testing. The IRHA claims truck and bus test waiting times have increased by 40-42% between April and June, creating a “crisis in the making for the commercial driving industry.”
The RSA defended its approach, stating it delivered record levels of truck and bus tests in May to prepare experienced staff for training new recruits. A spokesperson said this temporary adjustment will improve overall capacity, with commercial test wait times expected to stabilize once new testers are fully deployed in September.