South Dublin to finally get new driving test centre
South Dublin is finally set to get an additional driving test centre to alleviate the pressure on Tallaght. The Tallaght Test Centre is the busiest in the country, with nearly 14,000 drivers on a waiting list to their test. Waiting times to sit a test there are also 27 weeks on average - nearly treble the statutory maximum of 10 weeks. Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West has been campaigning for a new test centre somewhere in the South Dublin County Council area for a number of months. And in response to a parliamentary question, the Road Safety Authority have finally confirmed that they are looking for a suitable location to open one. "We have spoken to the Chief Driver Tester Mr. Auler who has confirmed that there are plans to open one additional driving test centre in South Dublin and we are currently looking for a suitable facility," RSA COO Brendan Walsh said. "It is welcome news that the RSA have announced that there are plans to open an additional driving test centre in South Dublin," Deputy Ward added. “At the moment, only Tallaght is available in the South Dublin County Council area. This test centre has the highest numbers of people waiting in the State. “Over 13000 people are languishing on lists for a driving test in Tallaght. People waiting for a test in Tallaght are on average waiting for 27 weeks. “This is not good enough. Sinn Fein have been calling for increased resourcing, expediting and increasing the recruitment of driving test instructors, and plugging the gaps in driving test centre locations. "An additional driving test centre in South Dublin will go a long way to tackle waiting times." Deputy Ward added that longer waiting time push up the costs of learning to drive and "trap learner drivers in expensive insurance policies". He said: "For some, learning to drive now costs over €3000 euro. The backlog even leads to disruptions in other vital services, as students or workers who rely on their licence are waiting in limbo. "For example, there have been delays to the recruitment of Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus drivers as well as to paramedics as they require a licence to start their course. Locating a suitable facility in the South Dublin County Council area must be a priority for the RSA so that it can become operational as soon as possible and waiting lists brought down. "I have followed up with the Minister for Transport to express the urgency for this. Sinn Fein brought a motion to the Dáil calling for the Government to address this crisis in waiting times, including the provision of new test centres. "This motion passed. Waiting times need to come down over the next number of months and the state needs to start meeting their statutory obligations of 10 weeks rather than half a year that we are seeing currently." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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