The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is opening 32 new driving test centres in an effort to reduce test waiting times from the current 23 weeks to 10 weeks by next March.
The new test centres, which will be located around the State, are part of the RSA's test outsourcing programme set up to reduce the long waiting times for more than 135,000 provisional licence holders.
The new centres will be operated by SGS Ireland, the company awarded the contract to conduct a minimum of 100,000 additional driving tests over the next 15 months.
Average test waiting times have fallen by one-third from 33 weeks last year, and are significantly lower than in late 2003, when waiting times exceeded one year in several test centres.
Although 23 weeks is the current average waiting time, it is significantly higher in several test centres. The longest delays are in Birr, Co Offaly, and in Cork city, where waiting times stand at 38 weeks.
Applicants also face significant delays in Raheny in north Dublin (37 weeks), Athlone, Co Westmeath (36 weeks), and Mallow, Co Cork (36 weeks). Waiting times of more than six months are also experienced in Waterford (35 weeks), Killarney, Co Kerry (33 weeks), Finglas, Dublin (32 weeks), Loughrea, Co Galway (29 weeks) and Roscommon (29 weeks), according to the RSA.
Shortest waiting times are in the northwest, with applicants in Letterkenny, Co Donegal waiting just eight weeks, those in Longford waiting 13 weeks, while in Donegal town and Sligo town the wait is 14 weeks.
RSA chief executive Noel Brett said the new centres, which bring the total number across the State to 83, will reduce waiting times in the most hard-pressed areas.
"Our ability to reduce both waiting times and the numbers of people waiting to take a test will now speed up over the coming months . . . we will not be satisfied until every driving test applicant can get a test appointment within 10 weeks."
The additional testing centres would have an impact on waiting times quite quickly, Mr Brett said, and he urged applicants to ensure they were well prepared before applying to be tested. "You will be called for your driving test much quicker than has been the experience up to now. The best way to prepare is to undertake a course of lessons with a quality driving instructor."
Mr Brett also appealed to those who are unable to attend the test to contact the RSA so their slot can be reassigned.
A number of the new centres have begun conducting tests in recent weeks, while others will begin over the next two months. Four of the new centres are in Dublin, three are in Cork, two each in Westmeath, Killarney and Tralee, with the remaining centres in other areas.
Test centres
CURRENT:Dublin - Northpoint; Fonthill, Deansgrange;
Dundalk; Drogheda; Kells; Arklow; Enniscorthy; Naas; Carlow;
Kilkenny; Galway; Mullingar; Tullamore; Cork - Little Island;
Waterford; Limerick; Tralee.
OPENAug 27th- Oct 8th: Killarney; Cahir; Youghal; Charleville; Nenagh; Cavan; Monaghan; Portlaoise; Ennis; Letterkenny; Sligo; Athlone; Donegal; Westport
