More than 1,200, or 11%, of driving tests have been cancelled over the past two weeks due to issues with insurance documentation, according to the Road Safety Authority, reports RTE.
Since 9 March, learner drivers have been required to show proof that they are insured to drive the vehicle used for their test, reports RTE.
The requirement was introduced following an agreement in a dispute over insurance coverage between the RSA and the Fórsa, which represents driving testers.
The union had argued that testers were not fully protected by the State Claims Agency while performing their duties, particularly when testing in vehicles that were not insured, reports RTE.
From when the measure came into effect until yesterday, 1,237 tests were cancelled due to documentation issues.
At first, only paper-based proof of insurance was accepted, but a later agreement allowed digital documentation to be used, reports RTE.
Fórsa said this adjustment “should help to significantly reduce the high number of cancellations”.
The union added that the change was made “in the interests of workplace and public safety”, reports RTE.
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The RSA had previously maintained that driving testers have always had the same level of cover from the State Claims Agency as other public servants while carrying out their official duties.
The Department of Transport said it “has been assured by the RSA that appropriate and full insurance cover is in place for driver testers in the conduct of their work” and that “confirmation of this has been provided by the RSA to driver testers”, reports RTE.
The RSA said it is prioritising customers affected by cancellations by offering them new test dates during ongoing discussions.
As of 21 March, the average waiting time for a driving test stands at 11.7 weeks, exceeding the 10-week target set last year, reports RTE.
Test centres in Dún Laoghaire and Mulhuddart currently have the longest waiting times at 21 weeks, while Newcastle West in Co Limerick and Skibbereen in Co Cork have the shortest waits.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, the RSA’s Chief Operating Officer explained that the issue arose after testers raised concerns about being in vehicles with drivers who were not insured, reports RTE.
Brendan Walsh said there had been a risk of strike action by testers worried about assessing uninsured drivers, which prompted the introduction of the new requirement.
He said the proportion of people turned away has since dropped from 11% to 7%, reports RTE.
Mr Walsh added that those initially turned away are being facilitated to resit their tests within a matter of days.
“They do not go back to the back of the queue”, he said, reports RTE.
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