Driving Test Waiting List

BingoBanjo

My Girlfriend needs to drive for work.

There's no bus routed to her place of work. She has done her EDT's and is on the test waiting list.

The list is about a years wait. She's talking about doing her test in Athlone or some other place with a shorter waiting list.

We live in Cork so this is a lot of hassle to get familiar with the route and drive there.

Is it possible for her boss to write a letter that she needs a license for work?

Any options other than grinning and bearing it?

zg3409

Looks like no

https://www.rsa.ie/help-support/online-support-centre/details/driving-test-new/driving-test-waiting-times/can-i-get-an-urgent-test

FAQ also says no

https://www.rsa.ie/services/learner-drivers/the-driving-test/test-waiting-times

Don't accept the job if you can't get there.

Is cycling an option with a power assisted electric bike or a scooter from a nearby other bus?

countyireland12345

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058303646/driving-test-waiting-list

Nothing you can do I'm afraid. Write a letter, send an email and telephone your local TD. Detail your girlfriend's situation and let them know how much she will be out of pocket by not being able to take the job. Ask them for advice on what to do. The waiting lists are an absolute disgrace. Record exchequer surpluses, growing economy, yet housing and health crises, and collapsing general public services. I mean a year to wait for a test? What a joke.

Strumms

Slightly over 200,000 tests completed each year.

from gov.ie

“Demand for driving tests is now at unprecedented levels, applications in 2022 were 28% higher than 2021 levels and 27% up on 2018 pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. The current demand for driving tests has a number of contributory factors, including: an increase in application volumes, with more learners applying for and becoming eligible to take their driving test since the start of 2022; increased capacity and take up of the Driver Theory Test; and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors’ and their capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.”

demand at unprecedented levels they admit, but fail to acknowledge and adequately plan for how the speed and scale of our population increases will affect greater demand… greater demand that’s been occurring and will continue to.

75 new driver testers were hired a couple of months back….. less then 3 per county on average so…. Also you have to factor in attrition… testers leaving be it retirement, seeking new employment and so on.

countyireland12345

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120820012#Comment_120820012

Absolutely. Apparently there is no team in the RSA that looks at the number of learner permits being applied for and approved. Likewise they took no action when theory test and instructor capacity increased when anyone with half a brain would foresee increased applications for driving tests. They also thought it was a great idea to let go some staff at various times in the last year. The RSA and the Department of Transport, and the Transport Ministers were all asleep at the wheel. If this sort of mismanagement happened in the private sector, there would be accountability and repercussions. But the RSA and Government just blame covid and think their solution, which will take the bones of a year to have an impact, is sufficient. I cannot wait to bring it up on the doorstep in next year's various elections.

SCOOP 64

God is it a year waiting list , my son has his first lesson on the 27th july yes even getting lessons can be slow, can he apply for test now or has the 12 lesson be completed first?

JoyPad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120823261#Comment_120823261

EDT must be completed before you apply for the test.

See information here.

Slava_Ukraine

If she’s done her EDTs she should be reasonably confident. Tell her to watch “Dane Tyghe” on YouTube and practice practice practice what he says. It doesn’t matter where the test is or how familiar you are with the route, if you can drive you can drive. 

One last tip for her… observation… always watch. Do that and you’re halfway there.

katti

Late reply to this one, but here's my experience.

I completed my EDT at the start of May and at the relevant time submitted my details for the test wait list. My estimated date was in Tallaght, week commencing 29 January 2024 which I rechecked religiously in the hope that it would reduce if they hired new examiners. When it changed to week commencing 5 February 2024 I changed my test centre to Athlone (estimated waiting time week commencing 30 October 2023). Just worth it to say that I was of course hoping I could change back to Tallaght at the time of booking, but I was more than willing to go to Athlone if this was not possible.

This never updated on the estimation tool (which still showed Tallaght, week commencing 5 February 2023), but if I went in to check my application it showed Athlone.

Anyway, I logged in quite regularly to see waiting times and to see if my centre had updated on the estimator. I tried this weekend but couldn’t access the estimator, this gave a number of reasons such possible invalid driver number (not the case) Invitation having been issued (no notification of this). So I rang RSA today who said that the invitation was issued via email on 19 July to my email which she called out to me correctly. I 100% never received the email. However, when I go to the “My Goals” section of the website I saw that I had the option to “Book test now” which I did, in Tallaght (my preferred centre) on August 17th. I never checked the My Goals section of the website because I just assumed that I would receive my invitation and at that point I would pop on and book the test. So just a heads up to everyone to keep a close eye on this section of the website in the case that emails are not being received.