Driving-test applicants in parts of Dublin have to wait almost a year to do the test, according to figures released by the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy.
The Minister told the Dail that although the "average longest waiting time nationally" was 29 weeks, applicants at the Finglas/Raheny centre had to wait 50 weeks while the waiting time was 48 weeks at the Churchtown/Rathgar-Tallaght centre. He also planned to introduce a theory test.
Mr Molloy said he aimed to have waiting times down to 10 weeks by the end of this year. Mr Denis Naughten (FG, Longford/Roscommon) said it could take three years to clear the backlog of 88,500 applicants.
Mr Eamon Gilmore (Lab, Dun Laoghaire) said it made a "nonsense of campaigns to combat drink-driving and speeding and to encourage the use of seatbelts to have 88,500 people driving who are not qualified to do so".