The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today confirmed that it will be making online theory tests available to all drivers later this month, May 2021.
Figures from the national authority on road users show that there are 100,00 people are now waiting to sit their theory test, due to centres closing during the Level 5 lockdown.
At the moment, online assessments are only available to people who are sitting exams to get a learner permit for a bus or a truck, but the assessments will expand to include people looking to get do their theory test for cars too.
RSA Spokesman Brian Farrell told MidWest Radio that: "We hope to have a monthly output of about 4,000 tests a month, but it won't be until later in the year that we can accommodate significant numbers of online theory tests.
"That's why it really is the reopening of the actual physical test centres, where we can deliver 50,000 tests a month, that the solution lies for the theory tests.
However, Mr Farrell warned that the backlog won't be cleared until theory test centres can reopen later in the year, in line with government public health restrictions.
From Monday May 10, ‘essential workers’ can take Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) with initial basic training (IBT), the programme of mandatory training for learner motorcyclists will also set to resume.
EDT lessons will apply to any essential workers who want to start the process, as well as those who had already commenced their lessons before Level 5 restrictions were imposed.
The new re-commencing of EDT lessons extends to essential workers in the process of undertaking lessons in preparation for Car, HGV and Bus tests.
The RSA have provided a form, which can be downloaded from their website, which essential workers must complete to ‘self-declare’ their essential worker status.
The RSA will reopen its EDT Online Portal, at 12pm on 10 May, to allow ADIs to upload EDT sessions completed by essential workers.
Driving tests for those learners in ‘non-essential’ workplaces are being allowed to recommence in a limited fashion, as part of the phased re-opening.
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