RSA defends hike in driving test fee

PEOPLE WHO fail to attend driving tests are costing the taxpayer more than €3 million a year, it has emerged.

With more than 40,000 people failing to turn up for their test or cancelling at short notice, the Road Safety Authority said it was moving towards charging applicants the full economic cost of the test.

The RSA this week almost doubled the cost of a driving test for a car, from €38 to €75, still short of the full economic cost of €120.

The total subsidy for driving tests amounted to €22 million each year.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said the current subsidy of €20 million a year for driving tests was unsustainable.

The authority aimed to make the process as self-funding as possible, though it didn’t want to “crucify” anyone.

Obtaining a driving licence in Ireland was still cheaper than in many other European countries, he said.

Mr Brett pointed out that the fee for taking the test had not increased since 1992 and that fees for other tests had not changed. The fee for a test for larger commercial vehicles has been increased to €110.

He said a €2.6 million cut in the authority’s road safety budget would impact on its awareness programmes.

The RSA’s graphic and sometimes controversial television advertisements simulating road crashes are likely to be aired less frequently.

The extra income from driver tests would be used to implement measures designed to improve the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles, he said.

Mr Brett also expressed concern about Budget cuts in road maintenance funds.

“We would be concerned if road conditions started to deteriorate and we will have to watch that carefully.”

The average waiting time for a test currently stands at 10 weeks, although this time varies across the State.