Minister Martin Heydon, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South welcomed the recent Government announcement of the gradual reopening of some road safety services provided by the Road Safety Authority and the driving instruction industry from the 10 May 2021.

 

As part of the easing of restrictions the Government has confirmed that;

 

  • Essential Driver Training (EDT) sessions will recommence for those essential workers who have not completed EDT from 10 May. (up to now, under level 5 restrictions no EDT sessions were allowed). The RSA will also reopen its EDT Online Portal, on 10 May, to allow Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) to upload EDT sessions completed by essential workers.

 

  • Initial Basic Training (IBT), the programme of mandatory lessons that all learner motorcyclists must complete with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) before sitting a driving test, can resume from 10 May. The RSA will continue to deliver motorcycle testing.

 

  • Driving tests for essential workers will continue to be the priority for the driver testing service. In line with the gradual reopening of services, driving tests for all those who are eligible to take the test and have been waiting longest will recommence in a limited fashion. The further opening of the driver testing service will be the subject of discussions between my Department officials and the RSA in the coming week. It is expected that the earliest invitations will start to be issued to these customers will be later in May.

 

  • National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centres will continue to remain open for essential workers only until 17 May, when they will re-open for all customers.  NDLS customers who have a Public Services Card or MyGovID can apply online at ndls.ie.

 

Minister Heydon said “I am aware there is a backlog of tests but to help deal with this backlog the RSA have recruited 40 more testers who are currently being trained and will be deployed in June. There are also plans to recruit a further 40 testers and to add up to 20 driving test centres.

The Minister concluded by saying that “I am pushing to ensure that a number of these new testers will be assigned to Kildare where I am aware there is a large backlog. Further details will be announced as they are finalised in the run-up to services recommencing.”