503. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting times for driving tests nationally; the measures his Department is taking to reduce such wait times; if he is considering changes to current reapplication rules which would see those reapplying granted an earlier test; if he is exploring increases in test capacity nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57107/26]

598. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport the current wait time for a category B driving test at every RSA driving test centre; the number of applicants on each waiting list, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58765/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 598 together.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driver Testing Service. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies questions to the Authority for direct response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.

Pending this response, the latest information provided to me by the RSA indicates that, as of 11 July, the national average waiting time for an invitation to book a driving test was 11.6-weeks. I am assured by the RSA that work is continuing to reduce the waiting time in line with the target 10-week service level agreement.

I am pleased that as of end June, the full sanctioned complement of 200 testers is employed by the RSA, which is a significant increase on the 151 testers available at the beginning of 2025 and a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022.

I would encourage learner drivers awaiting a test to monitor the driver testing booking system which makes available cancelled test slots for candidates to take up at short notice across the service.

The Deputy may wish to note that detailed statistics on the National Driver Testing Service, by county and test centre, are made available on the CSO website on a monthly basis and can be accessed via the following link: https://data.cso.ie/product/rsadts.