According to data secured by Aontú's Cllr Sarah O'Reilly, there are currently 2,201 driving test applications in Cavan, compared to 982 in Monaghan and 1,182 in Longford. The data was released following a Parliamentary Question and shows that in Cavan, 767 people are waiting to hear back; 672 applications have been 'paused'; 464 have been categorised as 'not eligible'; and 298 are scheduled.
Meanwhile, in Monaghan there are 322 people waiting; 333 paused; 201 not eligible; and 126 scheduled. Speaking to Northern Sound, Cllr O'Reilly said that waiting lists are so high in places like Finglas in Dublin, many are coming to Cavan to do their test.
She added that this is contributing to backlogs locally and is an unacceptable situation, particularly for young drivers who need their licence for work and college. "There are huge backlogs everywhere. And, what I think is happening, is that in Finglas for example, there are 10,000 young drivers waiting for a driving test while in Cavan we have 2,200.
"Many of those drivers in Dublin are coming down from the big urban centres to Cavan to do their test and back logging our system as a result," Cllr O'Reilly said.
