AQW 15405/17-22


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 25/02/2021
Answered On Date: 03/03/2021
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the restoration of driving tests, particularly for key workers.


Answer:
Driving instructors were included in the Executive’s regulations on close contact services that closed to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Following this Executive decision, driving tests also ceased and, following the Executive’s review of the Covid restrictions on 18 February 2021, they will remain suspended until 6 April, subject to a further Executive review on 18 March. Motor cycle training and testing is unaffected.
During the initial lockdown period, the Driver & Vehicle Agency (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.
When driving tests resume again the booking service will open in three phases. Phases one and two will prioritise groups of customers, for a limited period, whose theory tests will expire by 31 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, respectively. The booking service will then be opened for all other customers in phase 3.
The DVA will contact phase one and phase two customers directly to tell them when they can access the booking system. The DVA will release more slots in May, June and July to provide the capacity needed.
When the DVA is in a position to reopen the booking service for all other customers (phase three), they will issue further communications through nidirect and social media channels, and write to all Approved Driving Instructors to confirm this position. The timing of the release of each phase will be kept under review as the Covid situation progresses.
When testing resumes the DVA will continue to offer driving tests on a Saturday and following consultation with key stakeholders will offer driving tests for Heavy Goods Vehicles on Sundays, where it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test. The DVA will also use overtime to rota off-shift dual role driving examiners to provide additional capacity and to provide cover for scheduled driving tests, where due to a variety of unforeseen reasons such as sick absence or the requirement to self-isolate, driving examiners are unable to attend work.
To help further mitigate the impact on customers due to the recent cessation of practical driving tests as a result of Covid restrictions, I have brought forward further legislation to extend the validity of theory test pass certificates. Theory test pass certificates which have already been extended by eight months and expired from 1 November 2020 onwards, have had their validity period extended by a further four months. In addition, theory test pass certificates which expire between 1 November 2020 and 30 June 2021, and which had not already benefited from an extension, have had their validity period extended by eight months. Customers whose certificates expire between the relevant dates do not need to do anything as their certificates have been automatically extended.
The DVA acknowledges that learner drivers are keen to take their driving tests at the earliest opportunity and will continue to work hard to maximise the availability of test slots. However, all driving test services across these islands are experiencing high demand with longer than usual waiting times. Like all public facing services, the Covid-19 restrictions mean that the DVA has had to adapt its services to ensure that they can be provided safely and they would ask customers for their patience at this difficult time.
It is my priority to ensure that our staff and customers remain safe and the DVA will continue to be guided by the latest public health and scientific advice as we work as quickly as we can to serve all our customers.