To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether driving tests booked for during the four weeks from Friday 16 October will be able to proceed.

Driving instructors have been included in the Executive’s regulations on businesses that must close over the next four weeks to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Following this Executive decision driving tests will also cease over this period of increased restrictions based on public health and scientific advice. The booking service is now closed and the DVA will contact those who had their driving tests cancelled to advise them how they can reschedule their appointments.

To create additional capacity the DVA is planning to open up the booking system for February for these impacted customers only. Further appointments will also be made available in November, December and January as the DVA increases capacity by recruiting additional examiners. These slots, when they are released, will also only be available to these impacted customers.

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.