94. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that nearly 5,000 people did not turn up for their driving test to date in 2024; if this is a record number; and if he intends continues to permit the Road Safety Authority to renew learner permits for people who did not show for their test. [37494/24]

I understand that changes to the online booking system for appointments has significantly reduced the percentage of appointments where candidates do not attend for their driving test. However, under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and, as the information requested is held by that agency, I have referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days. However,

The Deputy may be interested to note that the RSA has recently started to publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and distribution of testing capacity by test centre.

My Department and the Authority have agreed an approach to addressing the issue of ongoing renewal of learner permits without sitting a driving test. It is intended that there will be a requirement to take a driving test before renewing a second learner permit and that there will be a limit to the number of renewals that can be made before a learner must start the learner driver process again. The intention is to proceed with the planned approach when the driver testing backlog is resolved.