The last time we discussed driving test wait times was in February as part of a Sinn Féin motion. At that time, the wait time in Wicklow was 26 weeks. It is now 33 weeks so the situation has got unusually worse. In Meath, the wait time is now a staggering 43 weeks. According to CSO data, wait times have grown in nearly every county. The situation is going backwards, unfortunately. It is clear there is a systemic problem. There are issues with the RSA and I welcome the fact that there will be a review of that entity. I also welcome the fact that the Minister of State is taking this seriously and gave the RSA a two-week deadline to come up with solutions. It would, unfortunately, appear that he has been sold a pup. In the solutions in the report he has been given by the RSA, I see nothing that will make the difference we need. It talks about hurrying up the recruitment process. Last September, the Government sanctioned the recruitment of 70 new testers. Are any of them in place? The RSA is just starting recruitment. That recruitment process is taking an incredibly long time This was also mentioned in February. It is a long time for any recruitment process. The other thing that is noticeable to me is that I do not know what the salaries are for those jobs but they are fixed-term contracts. Is that not the case? Are they not fixed-term contracts for less than two years? The Minister of State is shaking his head. Are they full-time jobs? They are. Are there going to be any fixed-term contracts? That was a part of the problem. Those who were recruited were on fixed-term contracts for 18 months. Of course, that makes it difficult to provide job security.

Sentiment score: -0.03

That is in the past and going forward, they will be full-time jobs. I welcome that. I was not aware that these staff can be moved. One could be living in Dublin and be required to go to a centre that is a long commute away. I imagine that lack of certainty makes it difficult to recruit when people are required to travel considerable distances. I acknowledge the current staff, who have been put in a difficult position in recent years. I can imagine that the stress for someone who is the only tester in a particular county is difficult. The RSA needs to look at pay and conditions to ensure that it is offering a job people wish to apply for and that it includes job security. As I mentioned during the previous debate, we need the same kind of provision under the service-level agreement as we have with the NCT to the effect that if the RSA does not provide the test within a certain period, it is free. If there were a financial sanction on the RSA to the effect that if it did not provide the test within the ten-week period, the test was free, it would move the RSA along considerably in terms of providing this fundamental function. I am worried that coming up to the new college term, many young people who have been unable to get their tests will be driving unaccompanied because they cannot get housing or accommodation where they are going to college. It is important that the RSA expedite this to ensure that people who need a car for college or a job can get their tests. We do not want any more learner drivers who should not be driving unaccompanied doing so, as we have seen to date.

Sentiment score: 0.10