The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today (August 14) announced significant progress in reducing national driving test waiting times, surpassing its own mid-August target and moving closer to meeting its Service Level Agreement (SLA) goal.

As of 14 August 2025, the average national waiting time for a driving test invitation has dropped to 13.5 weeks — well ahead of the RSA’s target of 16 weeks for this stage.

This is an improvement from 14.1 weeks two weeks ago, and half the 27-week peak recorded at the end of April.

This progress follows the implementation of the RSA’s Driving Test Action Plan, launched in May in response to an unprecedented surge in demand.

The plan sets out a clear path to bringing the average waiting time down to the SLA target of 10 weeks by September.Key measures introduced include:

A major recruitment to drive increase testing capacity.
Enhanced scheduling to maximise available slots.
Expansion of testing resources nationwide.

Brendan Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of the RSA, welcomed the results:

He said: “These results are a clear sign that our action plan is working. We’ve made significant strides in just a few months, thanks to the dedication of our staff and the support of the Department of Transport."

The RSA is reminding applicants that they can help improve access to driving tests for others by cancelling in advance if they cannot attend.

To ensure the best chance of success, the RSA is advising candidates to:

Read all test preparation materials in advance
Attend the correct test centre
Be fully prepared and arrive early

The RSA said that it remains committed to closely monitoring demand and adapting its strategy to ensure improved access to driving tests across the country.

Separately, yesterday it was revealed that clearances of marked gas oil, otherwise known as green diesel, were 3% higher in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Excise clearances of marked gas oil in June 2025, at 102 million litres, were down 3% compared with the June 2024 figure of 105 million litres. Green diesel is primarily used for off-road purposes such as agriculture and the heating of larger buildings.