'Not one Driving Test due to take place as the only tester left in Clonmel is on annual leave'
'It is unfair on people living in rural Ireland, particularly young people'
"There are no driving tests taking place in the Clonmel Driving Test centre this week due to the Road Safety Authority’s failure to meet demand and employ more driving testers," says Cllr Máirín McGrath.
She said: "Last year they committed to hiring up to 75 additional testers to address the huge backlog across the country however they have done the opposite.
"In February, the RSA let go seven experienced, and well regarded Driving Testers go across the country including one in Clonmel.
"The Clonmel Driving Test waiting list issue is more evident than ever this week as not one Driving Test is due to take place as the only tester left in Clonmel is on annual leave.
"Last August the average waiting time for a Learner Driver to get a test date in Clonmel was 28 weeks, while this is the most up to date data on the situation, the waiting times cannot have improved due to the fact we are now down to one tester in the busy centre that meets demand from across South Tipp and West Waterford.
"This issue has been brought to the attention of the Government and the RSA on several occasions by Mattie McGrath but they have not acted to resolve or even improve this.
"It is beggars belief that some testers have been made redundant at a time with the national waiting lists meet a record high!
"It is unfair on people living in rural Ireland, particularly young people, who do not have the luxury of depending on frequent forms of Public Transport."