AQW 13558/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 27/01/2021
Answered On Date: 04/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether there will be any further provision of priority driving test appointments for newly employed critical workers unable to apply before the 5 October deadline.

Answer:

During the initial lockdown period, the DVA assessed requests from key workers to provide them with priority driving tests appointments, once driving tests resumed. From 1 September 2020, the DVA resumed priority driving tests for key workers, and those who had their driving tests cancelled between the end of March and late June. The DVA continued to accept and assess requests for consideration as a key worker until 5 October 2020 when the application process for key workers closed and the booking system opened to all customers.

The DVA has received a number of requests from key workers requesting that they reinstate a priority service for them to avail of early appointments. The DVA is actively considering the facilitation of priority requests from key workers whose jobs are ancillary to medical, health or social care services and who are required to drive for the purposes of their work. However this approach, if implemented, would be based on engagement with the relevant employers, rather than with the individual learners, to provide the DVA with a list of any relevant staff that fall within this priority group.