New full-time driving examiners to help reduce the backlog for tests are to be allocated to centres – including Craigavon and Armagh – from the end of this month.
And it has been explained a “record” number of no-shows to complete driving tests was a key factor in the current hold-up, despite one local driving instructor previously blaming the booking system which was branded a “total disgrace”.
As Armagh I reported, the Driver and Vehicle Agency said last August that it would conduct a recruitment drive to get more full time examiners in place to help with severe delays learner drivers were experiencing in securing test dates.
Learner drivers were struggling to secure a test date with some waiting four months for any availability.
Last summer, learners in Craigavon were looking into 2024 for a possible test, while there was no available in Armagh at that time.
An update has now come in response to a written question by Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattle MC.
At the time the issue was highlighted, there was no sitting Assembly.
Now returned, the Ulster Unionist leader has been provided with a progress report from Infrastucture Minister John O’Dowd.
He had asked what plans his fellow Upper Bann representative had to recruit more driving examiners within the constituency “to clear the backlog of applications for driving tests”.
And Minister O’Dowd responded: “Since the resumption of driving test services following the pandemic the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has steadily increased their driving test capacity by adopting a range of measures, including the recruitment of additional driving examiners, use of overtime to rota off-shift dual role examiners to provide further capacity and cover for leave.
“They also offer driving test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays, where it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test.”
The Minister explained that, in 2022-2023, the DVA conducted 68,540 driving tests – the highest number since 2009. Of these, 56,132 were for private cars.
But Mr O’Dowd revealed: “Disappointingly, 2,812 people failed to attend their test, which is the highest number on record.”
In term of addressing the backlog, the Minister confirmed movement was imminent.
For he responded: “The DVA is in the process of recruiting new full-time driving examiners who on successful completion of their training will be allocated to test centres, including Craigavon, from late March 2024 onwards.
“The DVA releases Category B (private car) driving test appointments five months in advance, with all test centres set to release driving test appointments on the first working day of each month. Additional test slots will also be released as resources continue to become available.
“Due to the demand for services, the advice to customers is to book and pay for the earliest date available and check the booking system regularly for an earlier date, as additional appointment slots are added when resources become available and when cancellations are made.”
