Mattie McGrath: 1,926 Tipperary Learners Face Driving-Test Backlog
Mattie McGrath warned about long delays for driving tests in Tipperary, saying 1,926 learner drivers are waiting and that Clonmel has only one tester. He criticised the rise in waiting times from a previously quoted 10 weeks to 28 weeks, called the situation "not acceptable" and said he would follow up with the Minister after asking the Deputy Taoiseach for a response.
The county has 1,926 learner drivers waiting on a test, McGrath said. He reported that Clonmel currently has only one tester and that last week that tester was out on leave.
McGrath recalled that Tito Hannes told him last year that a 10-week wait was expected. He said the wait in Clonmel has grown to 28 weeks and described that change as unacceptable.
He said people cannot get their jobs because of the backlog and added that "Princes can't get into work." McGrath warned that rural residents are being disenfranchised without access to driving tests.
McGrath asked the Deputy Taoiseach for a response and said he would follow that up with the Minister. He insisted there should be cover for any tester who goes on leave, warning that without cover the lists will continue to grow and calling it "not acceptable" that there's a 28-day delay.
Waiting list figures
The county has 1,926 learner drivers waiting on a test, McGrath said. He reported that Clonmel currently has only one tester and that last week that tester was out on leave.
Wait time increase
McGrath recalled that Tito Hannes told him last year that a 10-week wait was expected. He said the wait in Clonmel has grown to 28 weeks and described that change as unacceptable.
Local impact on work and access
He said people cannot get their jobs because of the backlog and added that "Princes can't get into work." McGrath warned that rural residents are being disenfranchised without access to driving tests.
Calls for cover and follow-up
McGrath asked the Deputy Taoiseach for a response and said he would follow that up with the Minister. He insisted there should be cover for any tester who goes on leave, warning that without cover the lists will continue to grow and calling it "not acceptable" that there's a 28-day delay.
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Transcript
Tipperary has now 1,926 learner drivers waiting on a test. We have only one tester in Clonmel, and last week that tester was out and leave, badly overdue and leave, so that's fair enough. But the situation regarding tests in Clonmel is pathetic. Tito Hannes told me last year that 10 weeks was the wait. Now it's 28 weeks in Clonmel. This is not acceptable. People can't get their jobs. Princes can't get into work. Do you have a question, Debbie? People are disenfranchised completely in rural and without access to driving tests. Thank you, Deputy Taoiseach for a response. I certainly will follow that up with the Minister. It's not acceptable that there's a 28-day delay, and there should be cover for any tester who goes on leave, because otherwise the lists are going to grow. If there's not cover, I'll follow that up with the Minister. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.