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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Sophie Collins & Roisin Cullen

Killester has longest driving test wait time with a backlog of over 30 weeks

Killester currently has the longest driving test wait time in the country with a backlog of 31 weeks.

Drivers in Ireland awaiting their tests are facing delays of up to seven months, according to the latest figures released by the RSA. The Road Safety Authority published the new statistics under the Freedom of Information Act which show 19 centres nationwide with waiting lists stretching to over 12 weeks - which is the minimum.

The worst hit areas by these delays are Killester in Dublin, where the backlog has reached 31 weeks, followed by Drogheda where the wait is 25 weeks, and 18 weeks in Deansgrange/Dún Laoghaire in south Dublin.

Read more: Dublin's driving test centres with the worst backlog revealed

Up to August 30, there are reportedly around 46,500 people waiting to sit their driving test while nearly 33,000 have yet to receive an appointment. On top of this, almost 14,000 people have appointments scheduled for the coming weeks.

Three areas have waiting times of up to 14 weeks which are, Tallaght in Dublin, Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim, and Togher in Co Cork. The centre with the shortest wait time for prospective drivers is Kilrush in Co Clare, where there is just three weeks to wait on average.

According to Dublin driving instructor, Ian Daly, said there should be extended hours to clear the backlog. "People have to take a day off work if they work 9 to 5," he said, "so if they had the option to do an evening test or a weekend test of course.

"During the summer with climate change, weather has been much better - obviously it's bright later at night time - it'd be perfect."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's transport spokesman is Darren O'Rourke said: "We need to have a fit-for-purpose system of driver training and of licencing. And it's clear that, in terms of the testing service, it's not fit for purpose at this time.”

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