Over 200,000 people are now waiting for a driving theory test or a driving test. This is having a huge impact on people, particularly young people. Driving tests are happening in a limited way. Theory tests are completely closed, more or less, since October. This is despite the fact that the Road Safety Authority, RSA, is of the firm opinion that the theory test can be conducted safely during Covid restrictions. Mr. Declan Naughton from the RSA said as much on radio recently. Mr. Naughton stated that if there is a view that the theory test is unsafe for any reason, those in the RSA would love to get to show that with robust anti-Covid measures it is safe. He pointed to the fact that 42,000 driving tests had been conducted since January in even more confined conditions and with no Covid cases. Relating to theory tests, Mr. Naughton stated that the RSA would love the opportunity to demonstrate to public health personnel that it is safe to open. I ask the Minister with responsibility for this area whether a risk assessment has taken place. If not, why not? Most importantly, when will the theory tests reopen?

I expect the online theory tests to open within the coming weeks, if not days. It is imminent, and will be followed shortly afterwards by the reintroduction of theory tests in person. They are critical. Younger people have suffered particularly during this coronavirus crisis. We need many younger people to be engaged on farms across the country this summer and they might be able to do so if they have their learner's licence. Also, many younger people are looking to get back to work and part of that for many of them will involve the ability to drive. Getting the theory test is the first and most immediate hurdle.

The volume, as I said initially, online will not be limited but it will not clear the full backlog. It will be the combination of that and the return of the in-presence theory test, and the return to what we did last summer when we dramatically increased the volume of people who work in the area, that will ensure the average of 15,000 theory tests a month will be scaled up to approximately 25,000. That is what we intend to do.