Driving Test Waiting Times Drop Significantly as RSA Action Plan Shows Early Success
RSA cuts driving test waits from 27 to 18.4 weeks ahead of schedule. Target of 10 weeks by September looking achievable with expanded hours and new centres.
The Road Safety Authority has delivered encouraging news for learner drivers across Ireland, with average waiting times for driving tests falling to 18.4 weeks as of 14 June 2025, down substantially from a peak of 27 weeks recorded at the end of April.
The improvement comes just weeks after the RSA announced its Action Plan in late May, which aims to bring average waiting times down to 10 weeks by September 2025. The early results suggest the ambitious target may be within reach, with progress outpacing initial projections.
Under the original timeline, waiting times were expected to remain at 22 weeks by the end of June. Instead, the RSA's intensive efforts have accelerated the reduction by several weeks, providing welcome relief for thousands of learner drivers who have faced lengthy delays.
The authority has implemented several key measures to boost testing capacity across the country. These include accelerated training programmes for new driving testers, utilising additional training facilities and revised approaches that allow for earlier deployment to test centres.
Testing hours have been significantly expanded, with sessions now running from 7:25am to 7pm. This includes overtime slots on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and bank holidays to maximise availability.
The RSA has also introduced targeted manual intervention in its booking system, ensuring test invitations are directed to areas with the highest demand for more efficient slot allocation.
Looking ahead, the authority plans to open new driving test centres in Drogheda and Sandyford, Dublin, which should further ease pressure on the system.
Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer with the RSA, said:
"These improvements reflect the pace and focus with which the RSA and its teams have been implementing the targeted measures outlined in the Action Plan, and we expect the service waiting time to be below 18 weeks at the end of June."
The progress will be particularly welcome news for learner drivers in Cork and across Munster, where demand for driving tests has remained consistently high. With the summer months traditionally seeing increased demand from students and young people seeking to obtain their licences, the reduced waiting times could not have come at a better time.
The RSA's commitment to reaching the 10-week target by September represents a significant undertaking, but the early success of the Action Plan suggests the authority is well-positioned to deliver on its promise.
