The average waiting time for driving tests has dropped 30 per cent to 23 weeks in a year, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) said today.
The body plans to have waiting times down to 10 weeks or less by March next year, a goal that will be helped by the announcement of 32 temporary driving test centres nationwide.
Twenty-two of the centres, which are operated by SGS Ireland for the RSA, are already up and running, while the remaining 10 are expected to be in operation within six weeks. The opening of the new centres will bring the total number nationally to 83.
"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," said Noel Brett, chief executive of the RSA.
He said there were plans for external accreditation of driving testing services, a review of test content and improvement of customer services.