To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, in light of the current backlog in practical driving tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic, whether her Department has considered permitting issuance of driving licences following assessment by driving instructors.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has considered using Approved Driving Instructors to conduct driving tests but unfortunately this is not a viable option. Driving instructors would require the same level of training to become driving examiners as any new recruit to the DVA.

In addition, Directive 2006/126/EC, Article 10, Annex IV, Clause 2.1(e) states that a driving examiner may not be active as a commercial driving instructor in a driving school simultaneously. This means that driving instructors cannot also act as driving examiners.

Furthermore, in order to maintain mutual recognition of the driving licence going forwards, the driving test needs to be delivered by examiners who have completed the initial qualification set out in Directive 2006/126/EC, commonly referred to as the 3rd EU Directive.

When practical driving tests resume again the DVA will continue to offer driving tests on a Saturday and will offer driving tests for Heavy Goods Vehicles on Sundays, where it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test. The DVA is also recruiting additional examiners and will use overtime to rota off-shift dual role driving examiners to provide additional capacity and to provide cover for scheduled driving tests, where due to a variety of unforeseen reasons such as sick absence or the requirement to self-isolate, driving examiners are unable to attend work.

To help further mitigate the impact on customers due to the cessation of practical driving as a result of the latest Covid restrictions, I have brought forward further legislation to extend the validity of theory test pass certificates. Theory test pass certificates which have already been extended by eight months and will expire from 1 November 2020 onwards, have had their validity period extended by a further four months. In addition, theory test pass certificates which expire between 1 November 2020 and 30 June 2021, and which have not already benefited from an extension, have had their validity period extended by eight months.

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.