Huge waiting list for driving tests in Offaly

There are currently over 3,000 people on the waiting list for either a driving test or a driver theory test in Offaly.

The startling figures indicating the huge scale of the backlog of people awaiting tests at Offaly driving centres came to light as a result of a Parliamentary Question tabled to the Minister for Transport by Meath East Sinn Fein TD, Darren O’Rourke.

The reply to Deputy O’Rourke, which was issued by the Road Safety Authority, shows that nationally there are 225,000 people awaiting a driving test or a theory test at the moment.

Driving Theory Tests in Offaly are conducted in Tullamore, and a total of 1,521 people on scheduled to sit their driver theory test between now and December 31 next. 408 theory tests have been scheduled to take place this month, followed by 638 in August ; 212 in September; 106 in October and 93 and 64 in November and December respectively.

In relation to driving tests, there are currently 1,016 people awaiting appointments for their driving test in Tullamore, while another 674 are on the waiting list in Birr. As of July 6, 111 tests have been scheduled to take place in Tullamore and 88 in Birr.

As well as being provided to Deputy Darren O’Rourke, the figures for driver theory tests in Offaly were also made available to Laois/Offaly Independent TD, Carol Nolan, in response to a recent Parliamentary Question.

Deputy Nolan said she has been contacted on daily basis by people who are enduring “major levels of inconvenience and threats to the livelihoods” because they cannot access timely appointments for the driver theory test.

Describing the situation as “absurd” in a recent statement, the local independent Deputy said the backlog of people awaiting appointments was allowed to escalated into a major problem due to the fact that the Driver Theory Test was “not deemed to be an essential service” under Level 5 Covid restrictions. “This is the kind of excessive caution that has landed tens of thousands of people where they are today and has led to the creation of a massive backlog within the system that will take months to address if the process is not targeted and applications are not prioritised according to need” she said.

Deputy Nolan said The RSA are asking people for continued patience as plans are put in place to safely and gradually reopen the service over the coming weeks.

“But from what I am hearing, patience has well and truly run out and people want a return to normality immediately” she added.

The Meath East Sinn Fein TD who obtained the full list of people around the country awaiting a driving tests or a driver theory test has called for an immediate increase in testing capacity.

“This should include the fast-track recruitment of staff, longer opening hours, and the establishment of pop-up centres where necessary” said Deputy Darren O’Rourke.