Driving Test Appointment

The lengthy waiting time to get a Driving Test Appointment here in Ireland is of course the responsibility of the Department of Transport. Or is it? It is so easy to accuse your Government for every ill that assails us, but let’s look at the real reasons for the wait.
There are many factors leading to the unbelievable waiting time for Driving Test.

1. Demographics --- here in Ireland we have a very soaring proportion of the population in the age group seventeen to thirty years old which is the primary time for learning to drive.


2. Immigration --- As a result of our new-found prosperity: Celtic Tiger Economy and all that, we are not only drawing back expatriates but we have become flavor of the month for those looking to find a new life from both the European bloc and further distant countries. Since the accession of ten new States to the EU during 2004 there are numerous ethnic groups meandering their way to Ireland. Most of these families will ultimately be in a position to own vehicles and the children of these families will also want to drive when they are old enough.


3. Government Legislation --- introduced in JAN.2003, as part of EU Directives, has led to a considerable portion of drivers being required to sit a Driving Test instead of being cheerful to drive on a provisional license for upwards of twenty-five years! In the lead up to this legislation, on one day alone, upwards of eight thousand applications were acknowledged by the Driver Testing Section.


4. Candidates failing to turn up. Many Test candidates just don’t turn up at all. A recent grapevine comment from a Driving Tester revealed that four of his first six appointments on one day failed to show.


5.Vehicles not being up to the required Standard---Despite an extensive two page list of requirements on the Day, which is dispatched with all Test Appointments, vehicles are still being turned down .Some of the most common faults are :- Faulty Brake Lights; Cracked Windscreens; Faded and unreadable Insurance Discs; Poor Tires.