Learner drivers in Navan are still having to wait almost 4 months for a test, despite the county having witnessed so many road deaths.

According to figures released to Aontú Leader, Deputy Peadar Tóibín, show that 15 weeks is the waiting time in Navan.

In all, a staggering 5,305 people are waiting for tests in the county.

Today, Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín has questioned why, despite the lengthy waiting times and the large number of applicants, the numbers of driving testers have actually decreased nationally.

“Last year there were 145 testers, this year its 137, so to use a motoring parlance, the whole thing is going in reverse.”

“This is quite incredible. How are we ever going to sort this issue out if the basics are not in place. I think having enough driving testers is pretty fundamental, to coming to grips with the long waiting times.”

“This is like Groundhog Day. We’ve been hearing excuses and promises from successive governments on the issue of driving test waiting lists for years, but none has taken the issue by the scruff of the neck and put common sense measures in place to tackle it. There’s no question but there should be more testers, and tests on public holidays or at weekends to tackle the backlog.

Peadar and Emer Tóibín

This isn’t rocket science. People are suffering because of these delays and parents of learner permit holders in Navan and its environs for example who have to accompany their son or daughter to college or work each day are being impacted.

It is illegal for a person to drive unaccompanied and as a result people in rural areas just can’t get to work or to any other place they want to go if they don’t have a licence to drive. Not all of the people are youngsters either and may not have anybody in their households to accompany them. The knock-on ramifications are huge, both environmentally and socially.”

“We have no train line here in Navan, we have a ‘ghost’ bus service that is leaving people stranded on the side of the road ; our public transport service is absolutely appalling and is an insult to people who may be trying to get to work, get to the Airport or just go about their daily business.”
“At a time when road deaths are spiralling it is incumbent on this Government to sort this issue out and ensure that those who do drive on our roads are actually qualified to do so.”