13 April 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Sinn Féin TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said that there is a urgent need for a second driving test centre to service Cork City and the surrounding area.
“People in Cork City, and the surrounding areas are waiting inordinate lengths of time to get a driving test. It has become absolutely farcical, and very unfair on learner drivers.”
“The average wait for the driving test centre is 15.6 weeks, and the longest wait is 25 weeks. That is to say that people are usually waiting three and a half months for a test, but with some cases of almost six months – often those who have limited flexibility as to when, such as people working 9-5.”
“The waiting times at this centre, are some of the highest in the Country, with only six centres from 48 coming higher.”
“The numbers of people waiting on tests across Cork, City and County is 5,241, second only to Dublin.”
“This is a very unfair situation. We are demanding higher and higher standards of learner drivers, and expecting that they do not drive unaccompanied, the least we can do in return, is to ensure they can get a test within a reasonable time.”
“I think to ease these problems, we need to consider a second driving test in Cork City, it could be in the eastern suburbs, or on the Northside, Carrigaline, or any number of locations, but we badly need to ease the pressure on the Sarsfield Road Centre.”
“I have been seeking a debate with Minister Ross on this matter since February, will continue to do so, and will be writing to him to have this dealt with, but the current situation is simply not acceptable.”
