Portlaoise learner drivers face six month wait for test
'Beyond ludicrous' situation leaving people 'trapped'
Learner drivers in Portlaoise are having to wait six months to book a test, a Laois Offaly TD has said.
The Road Safety Authority(RSA) has confirmed to Independent TD Carol Nolan that applicants seeking to take their driving test at the Portlaoise Test Centre will now have to wait a minimum of six months before they are even ‘invited’ to book a test.
She has had to make an increasing number of urgent representations to the RSA on behalf of young people and workers who are desperately trying to sit a test that will enable them to access college or places of employment.
“Quite frankly, the situation is beyond ludicrous at this point, and it is having a seriously detrimental impact on the quality of people’s lives,” she said.
“I was informed today that constituents who applied for a test in October of last year at the Portlaoise Test Centre can only expect to receive an invitation to book a test in the week commencing the 22 of April 2024.”
“I understand that the RSA staff are under pressure and indeed in its correspondence to me the RSA clearly stated that it was conscious of the frustration and inconvenience that a long waiting time for a driving test brings with it.”
“However, this is a serious understatement of the impact this situation is having on people who feel trapped due to a lack of available transport options,” said Dep Nolan.
“I have written to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan demanding to know what measures he is going to implement to bring waiting times down as quickly as possible in conjunction with the RSA. We are constantly hearing that the RSA is in the ‘process’ of recruiting new driver testers, but where are they?” she asked.
“This is a basic but critically important public service that quite clearly needs a radical overhaul to make it fit for purpose for 2024 and beyond,” concluded Dep Nolan.