DUBLIN: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has demanded that more testers be recruited in the event of delays in obtaining driving licenses. The RSA called for the recruitment of 40 new testers to reduce the waiting time for the tests.
Meanwhile, 40 of the newly recruited last year will complete training and become part of the RSA in June. However, the RSA says it needs more testers.
Driving tests are now conducted only for essential workers due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, applicants have to wait for weeks. The RSA came out with the demand for more testers to address this issue.
Meanwhile, Brian Farrell of the RSA says it will take some time to reduce people’s waiting time for a driving test.
Mr Farrell said: “We have written to the Department [of Transport] to ask for 40 additional testers because we believe that is what would be required and if we could get those additional testers we would be looking at getting back to a 10-week waiting time average in February or March of 2022.”
Meanwhile, the Trade union Unite, representing Approved Driving Instructors across Ireland, warns that the RSA’s new decision to allow 50,000 people a month to take the theory test for driving licenses will create a crisis in driving training.
The Union also wrote to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan noting that no plan had been drawn up for the 600,000 compulsory classes required to increase the capacity for driving tests, and seeking urgent consultation with the Department and the RSA.
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