MLA: Backlog of 23,000 driving tests a scandal

DUP Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen yesterday asked Ms Mallon to clarify when young people can start booking and complete their practical driving tests again.

“Practical driving tests stopped five months ago in March,” said Ms McIveen.

“Rather than recommence them on September 1, young people can’t actually even make a booking until September 1.”

She estimated that 23,000 people have been waiting to get their full licence since March.

“At this moment in time they cannot even make an online booking,” she added. “It is a scandal.”

A departmental spokeswoman gave a detailed response on how it will resolve the backlog.

“It’s really important that in public life we deal in facts and that the public are not plagued by confusion, particularly during a crisis,” she said.

“Therefore we have fact checked Ms McIllveen’s comments and instead provided the full factual picture below.”

She said that on July 28 the minister announced that the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) was planning to resume practical car and lorry driving tests from September 1, initially prioritising those requests from around 200 key workers, which includes doctors, nurses and frontline workers. Most of them are young people, whose tests were cancelled at the end of March until June 22.

“The DVA has already been in direct contact with key workers advising them that driver testing is planned to commence from September 1 and to start the process of arranging a driving test appointment for them.

“The DVA will shortly also directly contact customers who had their driving test cancelled earlier this year to agree a new appointment date with them.”

The agency estimates that it will take six to eight weeks to clear the backlog.

On July 8 the minister announced plans to amend the Driving Licence Regulations to allow an eight-month extension to the validity of theory test pass certificates. There will also be a six-month extension to the validity of off-road motorcycle test pass certificates. This will come into effect next month.

For more information see www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/resumption-driving-tests-stakeholder-information-pack

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