Present driving and theory test waiting lists could be cleared within four months, Irish Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has announced.
Over 70,000 learner drivers are waiting for driving tests with a waiting-list of roughly 120,000 theory tests.
By the end of June, 29,000 of the theory tests will have been completed, 4000 of which will be held online as part of a pilot testing programme.
Online theory testing capacity will be increased to 6,000 in the next month and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is working to reach a target of 50,000 theory tests each month.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, tests were conducted only for essential workers, and in the past 16 months just 52,569 driving tests were carried out.
Essential workers will continue to be a priority but the RSA is increasing the number of examiners from 140 to 180 in the coming months.
Testing centres re-opened on June 7th and the RSA hopes examiners will increase the number of driving tests they carry out every day from six to seven.
This, along with the completion of training for 40 new examiners, will allow for over 4,000 tests per week.