Roy Beggs MLA, UUP spokesperson for Infrastructure, has expressed concern at the degree of complacency shown by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) during questioning about the driver testing backlog at the NI Assembly Infrastructure Committee.
Roy Beggs MLA said:
“There is an extensive backlog of new drivers wanting to complete their driving tests. The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) advised the committee that their testing capacity was reduced by over 15% because of COVID-19 risk assessments. Given this background, it was inexplicable that DVA expressed a wait and see attitude rather than act now to recruit more temporary driving examiners.
“It is obvious that there will be high demand for driver testing in October when testing will once more be open to everyone and I was therefore disappointed at the lack of urgency shown by DVA. There is a need to act now to increase driver testing capacity to meet the demand from their customers, the general public.”