The average waiting time for a driving test in Ireland has dropped by 11 weeks, according to the latest update from the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The average wait now stands at just over 16 weeks, down from a peak of 27 weeks at the end of April. The improvement follows direct orders from Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney, who instructed the RSA in early May to publish a recovery plan and report progress every two weeks.
While the reduction is ahead of the government's end-of-June target of 18 weeks, the long-term goal remains a maximum 10-week wait by September 2025. Achieving that will depend on whether additional resources make a meaningful difference. Eighteen new testers are beginning work this week, with 12 more set to follow in two weeks. The RSA expects to have 200 testers fully in place by September.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien welcomed the improvement, calling it a “substantial reduction” and crediting Minister Canney's ongoing engagement with the RSA. He said, “This is a substantial reduction in driving test waiting times since the high of 27 weeks at the end of April. I welcome the engagement of Minister Canney with the RSA on this issue, and the benefit it has brought to those most affected by long waiting times.”
Minister Canney said he was “happy to see this positive progress” but added that he remains focused on reaching the 10-week target. He also thanked driver testers and RSA staff for their role in bringing the delays down, saying, “I am happy to see this positive progress towards reducing driving test waiting times. I am acutely aware of the frustration felt by those eager to sit their tests, and remain determined that we return to the maximum ten-week waiting time as soon as possible.
“This report shows that we are making headway towards the target. I thank the testers, support staff and the team at the RSA for the hard work it has taken to get to this point, and I look forward to further meaningful progress.”
This comes after months of criticism around long delays at test centres across the country, with some learners waiting up to ten months for an appointment. In response, the Department of Transport had previously approved 70 new tester positions, and the RSA is now under orders to publish updated projections and progress reports every fortnight.
Whether the current momentum can be maintained remains to be seen. The extra testers could help relieve pressure over the summer, but it's still unclear if the RSA will hit its September goal. The system has been under strain for years, and many learner drivers remain sceptical that change will come quickly enough.