| The Driving Test in Ireland | | | | two Test Centres. The Second Test Centre |
| The Driving Test in Ireland is a two stage Test | | | | located at Castlemungret on the edge of the city, |
| commencing with the Theory Test which can be | | | | is the Regional Truck and Motorcycle Test Centre |
| taken just before your 17th Birthday and the | | | | for several Counties in the Munster region. The |
| Practical Driving Test will be taken subsequently. | | | | number of car driving Tests taking place here |
| The waiting list for a Driving Test in Ireland has | | | | would in general be a little less than takes place at |
| received a lot of publicity over the last several | | | | the Woodview Test Centre on the other side of |
| years since it really is a long wait. In most cases | | | | the city. |
| until very recently a waiting list of 12 months or | | | | The Traffic Volume |
| more was the norm. This is changing now | | | | The volume and type of traffic that you |
| however, due to the implementation of long | | | | experience is different at each Test Centre and is |
| backed up legislation which is underway as we | | | | again different depending on the day of the week. |
| speak. | | | | A Learner Driver who wants to bring his or her |
| Short Term Solution | | | | skills level to a higher plane needs to acquire |
| As a short term solution to a long standing | | | | knowledge of both locations since they have |
| problem the Department of Transport has | | | | some very unique hotspots. A good working |
| brought in an outside company to conduct 40,000 | | | | knowledge of these will make a big difference to |
| Driving Tests over the next year in an effort to | | | | being able to pass the Driving Test successfully |
| reduce the current number of Driving Test | | | | first time. |
| applicants which number 140,000 approximately | | | | Local Conditions |
| and growing daily. However, these additional | | | | Local conditions need to be reconnoitred in good |
| Driving Tests will be restricted to the greater | | | | time before the Driving Test to enable you to |
| Dublin area and East Coast having very little | | | | evaluate what is required. As a quick example the |
| impact on the waiting lists elsewhere! | | | | Castlemungret Test Centre straddles the main |
| More Needed | | | | road that bypasses the city centre and carries a |
| My own view is that there are many more | | | | huge volume of traffic that comes from the Cork |
| aspects that need to be addressed in reducing | | | | and Kerry areas and that is heading to the West. |
| the growing waiting list than just employing a | | | | A good deal of this traffic is heavy goods vehicles |
| company on a short term basis. By the time this | | | | and towards the end of the week and particularly |
| company has got though its required number of | | | | on a Friday it can be wall to wall trucks. Not an |
| Driving Tests the list will still be as long or even | | | | easy scenario to deal with when you are a learner |
| longer since the growth of the population is | | | | Driver sitting your test for the first time. |
| expanding constantly. | | | | Local knowledge and experience in very heavy |
| Two Driving Test Centres | | | | traffic conditions is an essential part of preparing |
| Outside of Dublin, Limerick is the only City with | | | | for your Driving Test...Ignore this at your peril. |