AQW 16066/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/03/2021
Answered On Date: 18/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on prioritisation for driving tests.

Answer:

Driving instruction was stopped by the Executive from 26 December 2020, which meant that driving tests were also stopped from that date. They have been included by the Executive in phase two of the Covid Recovery Roadmap. In line with the Executive process, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) is actively liaising with the Department of Health to facilitate a number of priority requests identified by employers, for key workers whose jobs are ancillary to medical, health or social care services or where there is threat to life, who are required to drive for the purposes of their work. It is for the relevant employers to contact the Agency directly to identify their staff that fall within these priority groups and the DVA will then endeavour to facilitate priority appointments for both theory and practical driving tests, where possible.