Update on driver testing waiting times

The Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, has provided a further update on the performance of the driver testing service, following the latest report to him from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) covering progress up to January 24.

The update shows that the majority of driver testing centres are now operating within the 10-week service level agreement (SLA). Of the 57 centres currently in operation, 35 are operating at or below a 10-week wait, with a further 18 centres operating between 10 and 15 weeks, and 4 centres operating with waiting times in excess of 15 weeks.

The national average waiting time now stands at 10.3 weeks, a slight improvement on the 10.6 weeks recorded at the end of 2025. While this remains marginally outside the 10-week SLA, performance remains close to target despite continued high demand.

Minister Canney said these updates form part of a series of reports he has received following his direction to the RSA to reduce waiting times from a high of 27 weeks at the end of April. The national 10-week SLA was achieved in September, with the focus since then on sustaining performance while demand remains elevated.

The update also confirms that there are currently 196 testers in service nationwide, with numbers expected to rise to 200 by the end of February following the completion of the next recruitment and training programme.

Progress continues on expanding testing capacity, with the Drogheda and Sandyford test centres due to open shortly.

While demand for tests remains high, the number of people waiting for a test has reduced slightly, from over 80,000 to just under 79,000.

Minister Canney also noted that enhanced monthly metrics are now being introduced to monitor the impact of the forthcoming multiple learner permit policy as it moves towards implementation later this year.