I asked in a parliamentary question the number of learner drivers awaiting a test date in County Carlow. On 31 December 2022 more than 1,073 were awaiting a test date. A further 955 have been issued with an invitation to book a test but have not used it within ten days. Only 316 lucky people have been allocated a test. I have been calling for increased resources for the service. The earliest test appointment in Carlow I could find using the Road Safety Authority, RSA, estimator this morning was in August. That is unacceptable. My county is a rural one. People including young students - Carlow is now a university town, which is excellent - are coming to me because they cannot get to school or into towns. Also, we need to recruit more.

I know a recruitment campaign has been carried out. There were 100 permanent testers and now there are 30 extra but that is not enough. I ask that more testers be recruited and that as many tests as possible are done.

I appreciate that this is a severe problem and that people need their cars, particularly in rural areas, whether it is to get to work or to college. This is a barrier we need to remove. We have managed to get on top of a few significant delays recently around passports and work permits and I am sure we will get on top of this too. I appreciate that the Deputy has reminded me of it again today.