Minister must invest in reducing test backlog – Sherlock

Figures released to Cork East TD, Seán Sherlock show that there are still over 2,000 awaiting a driving test in Mallow, the only test centre in North Cork, with the recently opened second test centre only showing 57 awaiting a test.

“The additional testing site at the Mallow Racecourse is now up and running, we need to see more testing funnelled through this site to see a faster reduction,” Deputy Sherlock commented. “The coalition must give the RSA the resources it needs to clear the backlog. Ideally, we would have seen the creation of another pop up centre in North Cork, but the decision has been made”.

Figures show that the applicants most affected are those under the age of 40, with 1,523 people in Mallow waiting to be tested.

“Over 24,000 nationally awaiting a test between the age of 31 to 40 is a concerning figure. In Cork, there are over 7,600 awaiting a test under the age of 40. There are study and employment opportunities being lost from the backlog. We need to see additional testers resourced to clear the backlog as a matter of urgency,” Deputy Sherlock stated this week.

LEARNER PERMIT EXPIRY DATES EXTENDED

Meanwhile, a further 10-month extension to the validity period of learner permits in response to the level 5 restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been announced by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD.

Due to restrictions on accessing many of the services delivered by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), as a result of Covid-19, some learner permit holders could not avail of driving lessons, sit the driving test or renew their learner permit.

This now means that a driver whose learner permit is or has expired between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021 is being extended by 10 months. This is in addition to previous extensions granted. Therefore, permits that expired between 1 March and 30 June 2020 that were previously extended by 8 months will now be extended by a further 10 months, so 18 months in total; Permits that expired between 1 July to 31 October 2020 that were previously extended by 4 months will now be extended by a further 10 months, so 14 months in total; and Permits that expired or will expire between 1 November 2020 and 31 July 2021 will be extended for 10 months.

Drivers who are affected by the extension are encouraged to check the new expiry date of their learner permit by using the expiry date calculator on www.ndls.ie. Enter the expiry date printed on your learner permit into the calculator and it will tell you the new expiry date.