I want to raise the issue of driving test waiting times. Nationally, the average waiting time is back up to 12 weeks. Last year, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is present, instructed the RSA to bring the average times down to ten weeks.

We need to bring them down and we need to keep them down. The policy should be to stabilise and sustain them at ten weeks. The centre with the second highest waiting time in the country is that at Mulhuddart. This waiting time has consistently been one of the highest and now stands at 20 weeks. That is double the national average. Our waiting times have stayed consistently high since the autumn. A woman who contacted my office this morning said that it took her eight months to get her first driving test. She now has to repeat the test and that will take an additional six months because the lists have now been put together and there is no longer a shorter waiting time for repeat tests. I am looking for an updated plan that targets measures such as longer opening hours and more testers at the centres that need increased capacity.

I thank the Deputy very much. The waiting time has reduced from an average of 27 weeks. It is down to 12 weeks this year. The problem in Mulhuddart is that we are waiting to open a new centre in Sandyford, which will take some of the pressure off. The number of driving testers has increased. We are at 196 right now. We need to get to 200. There has been an increase in the number of tests as a result of a regulation I introduced to stop people applying for tests and not showing up. People now have to sit the test. That has added a little bit of pressure to the system. That is being dealt with. Last year, we had 8,000 no-shows because people were just applying for tests so they could renew their learner permit. That provision is gone from next October. There is a bit of pressure there. I got the figures only yesterday. I am talking to the RSA and meeting with its board in the coming weeks to discuss all of that.