Mayo learner drivers can expect shorter test waiting times

Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for Transport has confirmed that the average national waiting time for a driving test has now been restored to 10 weeks. This marks a dramatic improvement from a waiting time of 27 weeks earlier this year. 

Speaking on the matter the Minister of State for Transport said: "I am very pleased that we have achieved our target of restoring average waiting times for a driving test to 10 weeks by September. This represents a major improvement from the position in April, when waiting times had reached an unacceptable 27 weeks.”

READ NEXT:“There is always tomorrow” - Mayo councillors make mental health appeal

He also expressed his thanks to the RSA, the Testing Service and my Officials for their commitment and hard work in delivering this progress.

Data sourced from Data.gov.ie

In data sourced from Data.gov.ie, in late 2021 and early 2022, learners in Mayo faced relatively short waits for a driving test, usually between six and ten weeks. By mid-2022, the wait times dipped even further, reaching as low as five weeks.

However, from late 2022 into mid-2023, the situation changed dramatically. Waiting times rose sharply and peaked at over 30 weeks, meaning many learners were waiting more than seven months for a test. 

Things began to improve in late 2023 and into early 2024, when the backlog eased and wait times fell back to around 15 to 20 weeks. But by mid-2024, delays started to creep up again, climbing to nearly 28 weeks in early 2025.

Most recently, in mid-2025, there has been a steep drop, with waiting times falling back down to around 10 weeks — the lowest in years.

While the Minister expressed his delight with milestone being achieved, he says he will now be working with the RSA and his officials to:

• Ensure that all test centres’ waiting times are reduced to 10 weeks or lower. At present, 43 test centres are already meeting or exceeding this target, with just 13 above.
• Ensure that a clear plan is in place so that waiting times remain at or below target, and progress is not lost.
• Deal with the high rate of candidates failing to attend their driving test.
• Introduce the necessary regulations to deal with the issue of multiple learner permits.

Additionally, he welcomed strong progress on non-car driving tests: in August alone, 1,332 truck and bus tests were carried out, marking a 53 percent increase on July’s figures.

Concluding, The Minister of Transport said that getting the waiting times down is only the first step.

“Now we must build on this progress by addressing the broader issues in the driver testing system, so that it is fair, efficient, and supports road safety. The overall objective is to reduce road deaths as we work towards Vision Zero.”