A Mayo deputy is calling on the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, to take decisive action to tackle the massive driving test backlog.
Sinn Fein Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh’s plea come as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) confirmed that there are now 1,548 learner drivers waiting for a test in County Mayo and over 92,000 people waiting across the country.
She says “with public transport down to 25% capacity and sharing of lifts not feasible due to Covid, this is causing massive problems for people who need a licence to get to work.
It’s a huge issue for people in rural Ireland, where public transport simply isn’t an option.
The problem is particularly bad in Mayo with 596 learner drivers waiting for a test in the Ballina testing centre and 952 waiting in Castlebar.
She told Midwest News today that there is a clear need for additional driving instructors and testers.
