Wait for driving test in Cork still four months as minister welcomes reduction

The earliest a learner driver, who applies for their test in a Cork centre this week, will get an appointment to be examined is in early November.

Those who apply this week to be tested in Skibbereen could have their test during the week beginning November 3.

Those who apply to be tested in Cork’s other two test centres, Wilton and Mallow, will have to wait a further three weeks until the week beginning November 24.

These waiting times can be accessed via the Road Safety Authority (RSA) website and come after months of complaints by TDs and representatives all over the country over the length of the waiting times faced by driver test applicants in their areas.

Earlier this year, it was revealed in The Echo that there were 17,500 driving test applicants on the waiting list for tests in Cork centres, and they faced a wait of up to six months in order to get their test.

Cork South Central Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath had highlighted this at the time and said that people were having to put their lives on hold as they waited for the practical exam, which would give them their opportunity of securing their full driving licence.

What is estimated to be an 11-week reduction has been welcomed by both transport minister Darragh O’Brien and the minister of state for road safety Seán Canney, who instructed the RSA on May 1 to put a plan in place to decrease waiting times to what he termed were “acceptable levels”, and to report fortnightly on progress towards this goal.

The RSA report for the week ending June 28 shows that the average wait time had reduced to just over 16 weeks, ahead of the 18-week target for end-June agreed between the RSA and Mr Canney.

The goal remains to reduce the waiting time to a maximum of 10 weeks by September 2025.

Mr Canney welcomed what he described as “positive progress” towards reducing driving test waiting times.

He said: “I am acutely aware of the frustration felt by those eager to sit their tests, and remain determined that we return to the maximum 10-week waiting time as soon as possible.”