Since the end of last year there has been improvement in substantially reducing the waiting times for driving tests at the Cavan centre. Unfortunately, once again there is a concern that we may see waiting times increase. Driving instructors believe that not enough driving testers have been rostered for work in the Cavan centre for June and July. Those two months are particularly important for young people who have completed their studies, hope to go on to employment and need a driving licence to ensure they can get to work. I would like an assurance that sufficient personnel will be rostered to ensure we do not go back to what we endured in 2020 and 2021, that is, long and unacceptable delays in people getting appointments for driving tests.

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. We recently sanctioned 75 driving tester posts which will increase the number from approximately 100 last year. Thirty testers were recruited at the end of last year, so more than 200 driving testers will be in employment this year. There should therefore be an improvement in waiting times toward the tail end of this year. There is a recruitment process. The testers should be in place from the autumn onwards, which should improve the waiting time situation in County Cavan.