LESSONS CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC - ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS - DARREN O'ROURKE TD - Sinn Fein
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DRIVING TESTS,
LESSONS
AND LICENCES
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS
CAUSED BY THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
DARREN O’ROURKE TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Summary of proposals:
L Hire 80 additional driving testers to achieve a
10-week wait target, as requested by RSA.
L Increase the Driver Theory Test capacity to
50,000 per week and put the theory test
online.
L Operate longer opening hours and more
practical driving tests per day when tests re-
start.
L Consult with Approved Driving Instructors
and their trade unions in the design of a
roadmap out of the current challenges.
L Ensure ADIs have access to high-grade PPE
to protect them at work.
L Remove barriers to ensure essential workers
can sit their driving tests during Level 5.
L Include learner permits in the temporary
licence extension scheme.
2
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Case studies
“We have 4 kids, 2 of whom have special needs. Because I can’t
finish my lessons or take my driving test, my husband, who’s a
frontline worker, has to take time off to bring our kids to their therapy
sessions, as there is no public transport where we live and I can’t drive
unaccompanied. It’s having a huge impact on our family.”
“I’m 18 and due to sit my Leaving Cert this summer. I want to get a
summer job in a shop but can’t plan anything now I can’t sit a theory
test, take lessons or sit the driving test to get the licence I will need
to get to work. I’m worried about the delays even when they open, as
I’ll also need a car to commute to college from September but I’m not
even sure if I’ll be able to get a test before then.”
“I’m an apprentice electrician. We are on a different building site
every day so I need a car. I’m currently getting a lift with another
electrician, but this won’t last. I can’t drive myself as I only have a
learner permit and obviously can’t bring my mother to work with
me as an accompanied driver. My insurance is sky high because I’m
on a provisional licence, but I can’t do anything about it. My boss
doesn’t care if I don’t have a licence, and I’m worried it will impact my
apprenticeship with him, as if I can’t get to site, I’m of no use to him.”
“I’ve recently got a job in a nursing home, but I am having trouble
getting to and from work. Currently my partner is dropping me off and
collecting me, but when he goes back to work soon, I don’t know what
I will do. Even though I’m classified as a frontline worker, I can’t sit my
test, as I don’t have all my lessons done, and I’m not allowed do them
now. It’s so frustrating.”
3
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Driving Tests
A consequence of the continuing public health emergency has been the cancellation and suspension of
driving tests for thousands of people across the State.
During Level 5 restrictions, driving tests are only available to essential workers.
As a result of the suspension of driving tests for most people, a huge backlog has now built up and a
plan must be put in place to address this waiting list quickly when restrictions are reduced.
In March 2021, the Road Safety Authority, who are responsible for driving tests, told the Oireachtas
Transport Committee that 98,414 people were waiting to sit their driving test.
Of these 98,414 people, 67,694 people have their 12 EDT lessons complete, while 30,720 are still waiting
to complete their mandatory driver training.
The RSA gave evidence that the wait time for the 67,694 people currently eligible to sit a test is 20
weeks.
But in reality, the waiting list is much longer.
When the additional 30,720 people, who have not finished their EDTs lessons yet, are included, the
waiting list would be closer to 30 weeks.
When Level 5 restrictions are reduced, there will be significant demand for driving lessons and tests.
Preparation must be made now to address this.
Throughout 2020, we called on the Minister for Transport to consult with testers and their union
representatives about extending operating hours to deal with the backlog, in addition to hiring more testers
to help deal with the huge waiting list1.
At the Oireachtas Transport Committee in December 2020, the Chairperson of the RSA, Liz O’Donnell,
1 https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/57691
4
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
said2; “in October we [RSA] made a submission [to the Department] for the recruitment of 80 extra driver
testers, and I am hopeful that that will be approved soon.”
However, at their most recent appearance at the Oireachtas Transport Committee in March 2021, the
RSA confirmed recruitment for just 40 testers is still ongoing.
It’s clear the Minister for Transport has not provided approval for the required number of testers,
contributing to the growing backlog.
We believe more testers should be hired immediately, to meet the RSA’s asks, and a plan including
longer opening hours and more tests per day be outlined.
It is essential people can sit their driving test as soon as it is safe to do so, as the lack of a driving
licence is causing huge issues for people, particularly in rural Ireland where public transport is not an
option.
In addition, this is costing young drivers a considerable amount of money, as car insurance is cheaper
once a full driving licence is obtained, but most young drivers can do nothing at the moment.
Essential workers
Even though essential workers are permitted to sit their driving test under Level 5, many are now being
prevented from doing so.
As it stands, learner drivers, who are essential workers, cannot complete their mandatory EDT lessons
if they do not have a driving test booked, but they cannot book a driving test without completing the 12
mandatory EDT lessons.
It is a catch-22 that is causing serious issues for essential workers who need to sit their driving test to
get to and from work.
It means only those who have completed all 12 EDT lessons, prior to Level 5, can now sit their test.
Obviously, we need to ensure driving testers and Approved Driving Instructors are protected during the
ongoing pandemic, but we also need to ensure essential workers can get to work.
Sinn Féin have called for this barrier to be removed, as essential workers must be able to get a driving
licence3.
2 https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2020-12-02a.811&s
3 https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/59890
5
Driving tests, lessons and licences. –Appendix
AddressingAthe problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Numbers Awaitng a Driving Test on 29 January 2021
Numbers Awaiting a Driving Test on 29 January 2021 per test centre:
Test Centre Eligible to be Tested Ineligible for Test* Total
Athlone 1,114 583 1,697
Ballina 596 220 816
Birr 770 254 1,024
Buncrana 316 145 461
Carlow 1,429 627 2,056
Carrick On Shannon 510 236 746
Castlebar 952 403 1,355
Cavan 950 455 1,405
Clifden 196 73 269
Clonmel 835 493 1,328
Cork (Ballincollig) 467 309 776
Cork (Wilton) 3,570 1,680 5,250
Donegal 462 238 700
Dun Laoghaire / Deansgrange 3,441 1,443 4,884
Dundalk 2,259 738 2,997
Dungarvan 668 239 907
Ennis 867 400 1,267
Finglas 3,976 2,238 6,214
Galway (Carnmore) 766 242 1,008
Galway (Westside) 1,181 475 1,656
Gorey 1,180 546 1,726
Kilkenny (Govt Buildings) 1,076 347 1,423
Kilkenny (O'Loughlin Gaels) 75 82 157
Killarney 906 419 1,325
Kilrush 172 71 243
Leterkenny 1,024 428 1,452
Limerick - Castlemungret 864 546 1,410
Limerick - Woodview 517 277 794
Limerick (Roxboro) 280 22 302
Longford 542 244 786
Loughrea 801 233 1,034
Mallow 1,406 524 1,930
Monaghan 358 223 581
Mulhuddart 2,437 806 3,243
Mullingar 1,135 374 1,509
Naas 3,599 1,229 4,828
Navan 2,118 919 3,037
Nenagh 387 200 587
Newcastle West 761 235 996
Portlaoise 998 443 1,441
Raheny 2,463 1,019 3,482
Roscommon 809 278 1,087
Shannon 433 125 558
Skibbereen 724 323 1,047
Sligo 626 328 954
Tallaght 6,644 2,672 9,316
Thurles 552 254 806
Tipperary 416 172 588
Tralee 980 452 1,432
Tuam 618 296 914
Tullamore 907 410 1,317
Waterford 1,503 850 2,353
Wexford 917 414 1,331
Wicklow 1,003 402 1,405
Total 64,556 27,654 92,210
*Ineligible generally relates to not having mandatory lessons complete
6
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Theory Tests
The Driver Theory Test (DTT) has not been classified as an essential service by Government and
consequently it has been suspended during the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.
The Government have said the Driver Theory Tests will remain suspended for the duration of level 5
restrictions.
It has also been confirmed the Driver Theory Test will not be conducted for essential workers during
Level 5 restrictions.
People have to attend a Driver Theory Test centre in order to take the test. The continued suspension of the
Driver Theory Test has led to a massive backlog building up.
As of February 2021, there were 79,276 people registered to sit their Driver Theory Test when they
reopen.
This is causing huge issues for workers and families, as people cannot begin to learn to drive on the
road, without first passing this test.
Last year Sinn Féin called for the Driver Theory Test to be put online4.
This was not acted on since then, and a lack of any action by the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD,
and the RSA is exacerbating this problem.
The Driver Theory Test Service are currently providing remote theory tests for bus, truck, CPC and ADI
categories. This is a welcome development, but it is essential this is now extended to those learning to
drive a car5.
There is no reason someone learning to drive a bus can sit their theory test at home, but someone
learning to drive a car cannot.
Other examinations such as university exams, are now taking place online securely, so there is no
reason the 45-minute driver theory test cannot be sat virtually and securely too.
4 https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/58925
5 https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/59356
7
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
MONTHLY BREAKDOWN OF CONFIRMED APPOINTMENTS,
IN EACH DRIVER THEORY TEST CENTRE, UP TO THE 31 NOVEMBER 2021.
Test Centres Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Grand Total
ABBEYFEALE 32 120 62 63 8 1 1 287
ATHLONE 141 358 209 209 58 2 1 978
BALLINA 225 387 197 192 9 1 1 1 1013
CARLOW 648 823 1034 116 7 8 1 1 2638
CARRICK-ON-SHANNON 196 252 314 96 7 1 866
CASTLEREA 202 263 330 97 4 2 898
CAVAN 208 275 354 251 15 1 1 1105
CHARLEVILLE 34 99 95 57 28 21 1 335
CLONMEL (CAHIR) 216 423 430 283 48 5 2 2 1409
CORK 1325 1453 1332 1619 420 266 30 9 2 6456
DONEGAL 66 117 74 3 1 2 263
DROGHEDA 454 535 602 227 15 6 4 1843
DUBLIN (NORTH) 2435 2844 2955 2265 75 13 5 1 4 10597
DUBLIN (SOUTH) 1316 1676 1488 1076 35 19 7 3 5620
DUBLIN (WEST) 598 693 690 705 333 10 9 1 3039
DUBLIN IFSC 920 1372 510 213 255 262 31 8 1 3572
DUNDALK 399 365 331 318 7 4 1 1425
ENNIS 797 985 1078 157 9 1 2 1 3030
GALWAY 563 784 1006 483 32 7 2 2877
KILKENNY 597 571 199 93 6 2 1 2 1 1472
KILLARNEY 268 153 274 95 62 31 58 941
LETTERKENNY 937 840 45 11 1 2 2 1838
LIMERICK 451 499 587 535 22 11 3 2108
LONGFORD 212 268 273 136 4 2 895
MACROOM 100 67 58 65 32 1 1 324
MONAGHAN 338 384 202 119 7 3 1053
MULLINGAR 128 133 61 125 61 23 16 1 548
NAAS 1265 961 1019 1208 39 6 3 5 4506
NAVAN 391 668 306 252 19 4 1 1 1 1643
NENAGH 106 100 96 65 18 4 389
PORTLAOISE 784 777 1015 153 6 3 4 2742
SKIBBEREEN 36 134 67 59 32 59 2 4 393
SLIGO 118 344 363 158 4 1 988
TRALEE 412 489 429 515 89 15 1 1950
TULLAMORE 393 610 501 110 11 1 1 1 1628
WATERFORD 1312 1491 769 144 11 5 1 3733
WESTPORT 65 126 69 107 7 5 1 1 381
WEXFORD 456 408 479 420 88 6 1 1858
WICKLOW 269 301 288 356 46 2 1 1 1264
YOUGHAL 68 68 135 31 61 6 2 371
Grand Total 19381 23249 20335 13180 2025 852 190 47 17 79276
8Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Approved Driving Instructors/
Driving Testers
Sinn Féin have raised the working conditions of Approved Driving Instructors during the ongoing pandemic
and asked the Minister and the RSA to address this.
From the outset of the pandemic, we called on the Minister to provide all necessary PPE for ADIs and
testers, to ensure people could continue to get their driving licences.
A problem arose from October 2020, when Level 5 restrictions were again re-imposed, that meant ADIs
were locked out of RSA centres.
This resulted in ADIs having no access to toilet facilities, shelter, warmth or sanitisation facilities at
work.
We raised this with the Minister repeatedly and with the RSA chairperson when she appeared at the
Oireachtas Transport Committee in December, but nothing was done to address this.
It led to cases of ADIs standing in the hammering rain during lessons6, or when students were using
their car for a test, and it meant some ADIs had to ask driving students if they could use their homes for
toilet facilities between lessons7.
It’s an unacceptable way to treat any worker, and particularly those who have worked throughout the
pandemic.
This has yet to be remedied by the Minister or the RSA.
The Minister must engage with driving instructors and their unions to address these concerns and to
involve ADIs, testers and trade unions in preparing a roadmap out of the current challenges.
6 https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/58795
7 https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2020-12-08a.452&s
9Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Driving Licences
Many people were having problems renewing their licence online, as you now need both a Public Services
Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID account to do this.
In addition, due to Covid-19 there were a reduced number of appointments available in NDLS centres.
In February 2021, the Government announced an extension on the expiry of driving licences.
The Government have said that the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) will automatically update
driver records to show the new expiry date, reducing the need for people to renew their licence in person or
online at this time.
A letter will then be sent to every customer who is entitled to the extension, explaining that the expiry
date of their licence is being extended.
They have also confirmed that Insurance Ireland and An Garda Síochána have been informed about the
new expiry date of driving licences, as people will retain their current licence with the existing expiry date.
The change will apply as follows;
• Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between 1 March 2020
and 31 May 2020 will have a new expiry date of 1 July 2021.
• Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between 1 June 2020
and 31 August 2020 will have thirteen months (which includes the previous extension) added to
their expiry date. For example; a licence which expired on 31 August 2020 will have a new expiry date
of 30 September 2021.
• Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expiry date is between 1
September 2020 and 30 June 2021 will have an extra ten months added to their expiry date. For
example; a licence which expires on 30 June 2021 will have a new expiry date of 30 April 2022.
However, those drivers with provisional licences, or learner permits, have not had their licence extended
during this same period.
We believe a temporary extension should be granted to help deal with this current situation.
10Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
www.sinnfein.ie
11Driving tests, lessons and licences.
Driving tests, lessons and licences. – Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Addressing the problems caused by the Covid-19
www.sinnfein.ie
Darren O’Rourke TD
MEATH EAST
Sinn Féin spokesperson on
Climate Action,
Communications Networks
and Transport
darren.orourke@oireachtas.ieYou can also read
