Long waiting times for driving tests in Cork and Kerry
OIREACHTAS CORRESPONDENT
THERE is great anxiety among many younger drivers and their parents who are waiting for the driver test, Deputy Aindrias Moynihan told the Dáil.
He said many had completed the lessons and are well-practised but are stuck in the queue waiting for the driver test.
“It is four or five months in many centres in Cork, Mallow, Skibbereen and Killarney,” he said. “
Deputy Moynihan said that contrasted with five and six weeks in Waterford and Carrick-on-Shannon.
“It is clearly possible to address this in some places but not in others. I am aware that the Minister has been talking about taking on additional testers over the next 12 to 18 months, but the problem is there now and waiting for a long time for testers is not realistic,”said the Cork NorthWest TD.
“Will the Taoiseach raise it with the Minister and ask him to prioritise having additional testers so that people who are stuck waiting for the driver test can have a realistic test time.”
In reply, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the recruitment of additional testers will happen and that will reduce the waiting times for a driver test.
“However, there are many cancellations around the country every day and if somebody has a pressing need, especially if he or she needs a full licence for work, he or she can contact the Road Safety Authority and those cancellations can be made available,” he said. be thoroughly addressed in the interest of victims and the proper administration of justice, and for the future welfare of the children who committed the crimes,” he said.
In addition to the apology which was appropriately issued by the Garda Commissioner, he said Gardaí had commenced a process to contact victims and have also provided a helpline for anyone who might be affected by the failure to process these cases. Details of the helpline are available on the Garda website.
“I am anxious that all relevant information must be made available to the victims, including the steps being taken to deal with the failures that have occurred,” said the Cork East TD.
“A number of fundamental issues have been identified by the Garda examination, including inadequate ICT and supervision, a lack of training, and alleged failings by individual Gardaí,” he added.
Minister Stanton said concerns about similar gaps surfaced previously on different issues and last month the Government published the implementation plan which will give effect to the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
This plan is aimed at addressing, in a systematic way, all the failings identified.
“The Government is committed to the implementation of the commission’s report and a programme office has been established in the Department of An Taoiseach to oversee and report on progress,” added the Minister.