Younger drivers might have to wait as long as 18 months to sit their driving test and have to pay hundreds of euro in extra insurance during that time, the Irish Independent reports.
The claim made by Transport Minister Eamonn Ryan that waiting times can be reduced down to 15 weeks has been dubbed “wildly optimistic” by insurance broker CoverInAClick.ie
Younger drivers will have to pay between €300 and €600 extra in insurance premiums while they await their tests.
Over 96,000 people are awaiting driving tests, with more than half of them being under the age of 40.
CoverInAClick.ie, a company that specialises in insuring young drivers, says that for those beginning with the process could be waiting as long as 18 months for their license; Although, Minister Ryan’s claim that up to 4,881 tests could be completed per week contradicts the insurance company’s statement.