11 Week Wait Time For Driving Test In Tipp Town

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Applicants for driving tests in County Tipperary are facing long delays  – in some cases well above the national average of 19 weeks.

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has established that 3,823 people across Tipperary were waiting to sit a Category B (Car) Driving Test on December 31st  2022. 

Clonmel reports a 26 week wait time with 1,571 people on a waiting list, Nenagh has 10 week wait time and 814 applicants,  Thurles has an 11 week wait time also 814 applicants waiting while Tipperary town also has an 11 week wait time with 797 people waiting for their test.

The county has 3 permanent Driver Testers and one allocated on a contract basis – Deputy Lowry is seeking an increased allocation for the county.

The Department of Transport sanctioned an increase in the number of permanent Driver Testers nationally from 100 to 130 early last year, however some of these Testers did not commence their role until December 2022, while three did not start until last month (January 2023) according to Deputy Lowry.

Overall, the Driving Test Centre currently has 125 permanent Testers and 10 contracted Testers – the Road Safety Authority  projects that beyond 2023/2024, a permanent pool of 170 will be required to meet demand.