Two month wait for a driving test in County Sligo

A list released by RSA Ireland shows that the between 1st January to 31st March 2024, the minimum estimated waiting time for a learner driver to be invited for a test was 8 weeks in Sligo.

The data also states that on 31st March 2024, there were 1,924 applicants on a learner permit in Sligo, out of which only 319 candidates had their test booked and 694 had been invited to book a slot.

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There were 585 learner drivers waiting for a slot to be available to book the test, while 326 learners were not eligible to go for a test.

The figures released by RSA showed that there are 60,385 people waiting for a slot availability in the country, while the number of active testers is only 137.

The RSA had previously said that the driving test service has seen “unprecedented demand” over the last two years, with the number of applications in 2022 up by 28 per cent as compared to 2021.

According to the figures from January to March 2024, the highest estimated waiting time has been recorded at Dún Laoghaire/Deansgrange driving test centre in South Dublin. The estimated waiting time at this centre is about 8 months while there are 4,549 people on the waiting list for a slot.

Aontú representative Mairead Tóibín told the Irish Independent that having enough driving testers is quite fundamental to coming to grips with the long waiting lists.

“This is like Groundhog Day. We’ve been hearing excuses and promises from successive governments, but none has taken the issue by the scruff of the neck and put common-sense measures in place to tackle it.

“The implementation of more testers and tests taking place on public holidays or weekends is essential to tackle the 8-month backlog.”