Irish driver testers 'let go' amid chronic backlog in test dates

A number of tester drivers have not had their contracts renewed despite an unprecedent demand for driving tests, the Driver Testing Service has confirmed. 

Despite an average wait time of 22 weeks for a driving test in the country, it emerged recently that a number of testers are not being kept on after their contracts end. 

"A small number of temporary testers have not had their contracts renewed. These testers are reaching the end of their fixed-term contracts. The management of employment contracts is a matter for the RSA," a spokesperson confirmed.

With a recruitment drive announced last year to increase the number of driving testers, the non-renewal of these contracts has surprised people working in the industry. 

The Driver Testing Service confirmed that it has experienced very high and unprecedented demand over the past two years, with the number of applications for a driving test in 2022 being 28% higher than the record 2021 figures. 

The service also continued to see increased application volumes throughout 2023.

To deal with the demand, a recruitment campaign to hire additional testers has taken place and additional testers were recruited, trained and started testing in 2023. 

The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and the Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, Jack Chambers, announced approval last April for 75 additional driver testers to be hired by the RSA.

However, the recruitment drive has fallen short of this figure, by 34. 

"There were 41 additional testers recruited last year and the total is now 176. The service has already started to improve, with pace of improvement expected to significantly pick up from the start of 2024," the spokesperson said.

At end of December 2023, the estimated national average time to invite for a driving test was 22.5 weeks.