https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/irish-driving-test-wait-list-27748784Irish Driving Test wait list up 61% in just one year as half fail on first go
There are 71,500 people waiting to try for their full licence
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Big wait for tests (Image: RSA)
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The number of people on the national driving test wait list has soared by 61% in the last 12 months - and that is putting major financial strain on young people in particular.
Younger and learner drivers are facing higher insurance costs and career issues as they wait to get their full licenses. There are now 71,500 people waiting for their test. That's close to the entire population of Galway city. If you add the 28,459 learners who have applied to take the test but are not eligible yet, it's in the region of 100,000.
The failure rate is now 53% - very high by European standards - and yet another cause of delays as half of those who sit their first test will need to go again.
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The average wait time for Ireland is now 30 weeks . This has been labelled as 'unacceptable' by Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport. The department has been pushing for hiring at least 70 new testers and officials from the Road Safety Authority of Ireland and the Oireachtas Transport Committee will appear before a Dail the Oireachtas Transport Committee this Wednesday to outline the actions being taken to cut wait times.
TDs and senators will hear that the end of the Pandemic restrictions has caused a surge in new drivers applying for provisional licences and tests. This has put increased strain on an already creaking system with the number of people on a provisional driver's licence increasing increased by 53% in the last four years.
