Driving test applications remain at record levels
Applications for driving tests remain at record levels, with 192,373 driving test applications received between January and August 2025.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) says that from June to August 2025, it conducted more than 74,000 driving tests, a 17 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. It is obviously not good enough.
While driver testers and supporting staff seem to be contributing to more tests being done, with over 15,000 of what’s termed ‘overtime tests’ delivered during the three summer months, the RSA still appears to be incapable of dealing with the crisis.
The RSA is saying it has delivered on the commitments set out in its Driving Test Action Plan, reducing waiting times to a 10-week average and increasing capacity across the national driver testing service. This had already been deemed unacceptable by Minister Seán Canney, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
It is surely part of any well-funded organisation’s role to anticipate increased demand and plan for that. It speaks of “applications exceeding typical seasonal patterns”. Have they never heard of forecasting for the worst case scenarios and planning and delivering towards those levels?
With the number of applications still at record high levels, it is a bit pathetic to be issuing a press release claiming delivery of commitments. And some publications might publish such glossy PR, but the Irish taxpayer deserves better.
The RSA says it continues to reduce waiting times across test centres by recruiting testers to strengthened the service. However, part of any improvement has been a diversion of resources.
For example, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) have been very public in its criticism of delays in truck driver testing in Ireland, which it said had created a crisis in the haulage sector, worsening the shortage of qualified drivers and threatening the economy. It blamed the RSA for diverting testers to cars, leading to a significant drop in truck tests.
The RSA admitted that resources were temporarily redeployed from higher-category testing (code for truck or bus tests) to recruitment and training. This initially placed pressure on drivers awaiting tests in higher categories. The RSA claims that it has brought this back into balance last month, with an increase in capacity.
It claims that in August 2025 alone, 1,332 higher-category tests were conducted, up from 850 in July 2025. The fact remains that matters in these categories are still worse off today than they were a few months ago.
The RSA also claims that plans for a third new centre are advancing, with a site in Munster identified. The RSA further says it will “continue to closely monitor demand and adapt operations as needed, ensuring that the national driver testing service remains responsive, resilient, and fit for purpose in meeting the needs of road users”.
Wouldn’t it be great if they did just that, but it is certainly not the case at the moment!