Sinn Féin spokesperson for Dublin, Mark Ward TD, has criticised the government for their continued failure to deliver on a new driving test centre in South Dublin.
Deputy Ward has said that the government have had long enough to sort the backlog of driving tests in South Dublin.
Teachta Ward said:
“This government have continuously missed their targets and have continuously failed to deliver timely driver tests.
“I have called for an additional driving test centre in South Dublin for some time. The Tallaght Centre has seen the longest waits in the state.
“I welcomed the announcement back in April that there would be a new driving test centre in South Dublin. In August Sandyford was identified as the location and it was to open in a number of weeks. Will it open at all this year at this stage?
“The demand for a new testing centre is clear. I have been contacted by so many constituents who need their full license to be able to work and study. But the government have been painfully slow to act, leaving people to wait longer than needed.
“The longer people are forced to wait the more this pushes up their costs for learner drivers. They are spending thousands of euros languishing for tests because the government can’t keep its promise to open up a new test centre.
“The backlog for driving tests remains at 60,000 of which a high concentration is in certain areas around the county. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to get serious about delivering on long awaited new test centres.
“I am calling on government to open the new test centre without delay. People cannot wait any longer.”