To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) whether there are currently sufficient additional numbers of trained driving examiners to staff the proposed temporary driving test centres in (a) Coleraine; (b) Belfast; (c) Omagh; and (d) Cookstown; and (ii) what steps have been taken to increase the number of driving teachers and examiners to deal with the backlog of learner drivers.

The Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) currently has 38 full time driving examiners and 39 dual role examiners who conduct both vehicle and driving tests. While it regulates the Instructor industry, it does not employ any driving instructors.

The DVA has identified four additional departmental buildings in Belfast, Coleraine, Cookstown and Omagh, which can be used as temporary driving test centres, if they are needed in the local area and there is sufficient driving examiner capacity. The new temporary test centres at Cookstown and Omagh have now opened for appointments

The DVA has, and continues, to work hard to increase its capacity to help meet the high demand for driving tests for all customers, including those who are required to take a further driving test. Through increasing its capacity in May, the DVA conducted 5,476 driving tests which is 35% higher than the five year average for that month.

The DVA has introduced a range of measures to maximise the availability of test slots, including the recruitment of additional temporary and permanent vehicle examiners, which will free up the dual role examiners to conduct more tests. Additionally, a further 10 new dual role examiners have been identified for driving examiner training. The first of these examiners is now conducting Category B (private car) driving tests and a further tranche, if they successfully complete their training, will commence driver testing by mid-July. The DVA is also currently progressing an external recruitment competition for 10 new full-time driving examiners.

The DVA continues to offer driving tests on a Saturday and at certain centres on Sundays where it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test. Overtime will also be used to rota off-shift dual role driving examiners to provide further capacity. Additional slots are therefore being made available from now until the end of October and the DVA will soon be releasing appointments for November.

I remain committed to minimising disruption and ensuring our plans for the restoration of services is in hand. However, all driving test services across these islands are experiencing high demand with longer than usual waiting times and we would ask customers for their continued patience.