The inability of people to access a driving test in south Dublin is an issue I have been raising for years. At the moment, 10,000 people are on the waiting list for the testing centre in Tallaght. This is the longest waiting list in the State. It represents 12% of the State-wide waiting list. The centre in Deansgrange in Dún Laoghaire has the third longest waiting list. In June 2021, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, said the backlog would be cleared within four months of exiting the Covid situation. Clearly, this has not happened. Given that south Dublin now has two testing centre waiting lists in the top three longest in the State, will the Government commit to examining the feasibility of an additional testing centre to relieve the pressure in Tallaght and Deansgrange, allowing people access to a driving test without waiting months or possibly years?

A number of backlogs built up over the course of the pandemic, including in the areas of passports and work permits. We have managed to get through most of them. The passport situation is much improved and delays in getting work permits are now down to four to five weeks. This is clearly one area in which there is still a backlog and that needs to be dealt with. I do not have detailed information on south Dublin but I will make the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, aware that the Deputy raised this issue. We will see what can be done. It is important that people get a timely driving test.

It is not just about the freedom they need to be able to get around, look after relatives or bring kids to school. There is also the issue of being able to work and access the workforce. There is a constitutional right not to have the right to work denied. We need to work on this and I thank the Deputy for raising it.