Carlow driving test wait times now 'among the lowest in the country'
There have been 132 no-shows for driving tests across Carlow and Kilkenny since January
Local Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Deputy Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, has welcomed a significant reduction in driving test waiting times in his constituency, describing them as now "among the lowest in the country."
According to the Road Safety Authority, the current waiting times for a driving test in Carlow and Kilkenny is seven weeks.
This is well below the peak national average of 27 weeks recorded last April. Deputy Cleere said the improvement highlights the positive impact of the RSA’s action plan, which was launched in May.
Deputy Cleere, who had previously expressed frustration at lengthy delays, said he is delighted to see such progress locally.
“I am thrilled to hear from the RSA that Carlow and Kilkenny now have some of the lowest wait times for car driving tests in the country. I have long called for this issue to be addressed, and to now see real results is exactly what was needed.
“I must credit the Road Safety Authority for its excellent action plan, introduced in May. It is clear to me that it is having a significant and positive impact on waiting times nationwide,” he said.
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While welcoming the improvement, Deputy Cleere also raised concerns about the high number of applicants failing to turn up for their scheduled test appointments.
“So far this year, there have been 132 no-shows for driving tests across Carlow and Kilkenny. I understand people are nervous and anxious on the day but not turning up wastes testers’ time when demand is already so high.
“There is still a huge strain on testers to clear backlogs, and dealing with no-shows is incredibly frustrating for them,” he concluded.