Driving test waiting times in Leitrim climb to 13 weeks amid nationwide surge in applications
Figures from the Road Safety Authority confirm there are 2,269 learner permits in Leitrim amid a nationwide increase in learner permits compared to this time last year.
Figures obtained by the Leitrim Observer show that demand for driving licences and driving tests in Leitrim continues to rise, reflecting a broader national trend that has placed significant pressure on the Road Safety Authority’s (RSA) testing system.
There are a total of 2,269 learner permits in Leitrim and a total of 25,728 driving licences.
In neighbouring counties, the number of learner permits stands at 4,207 in Roscommon, 3,573 in Longford, 4,710 in Sligo and 10,090 in Donegal.
Data obtained by the Irish Road Haulage Association found that, nationwide, learner permits have increased by 6,219 since last March, bringing the total to 388,090.
The IRHA has described the RSA as "out of its depth" in dealing with demand. However, the RSA said it had increased tester numbers and completed substantially more tests this year than during the same period in 2024.
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At Leitrim’s only test centre in Carrick-on-Shannon, wait times for people sitting their driving test have increased month by month over the last three months. The estimated waiting time for a driving test invite in May was 13 weeks, compared with 11 weeks in April, 10 weeks in March, 13 weeks in February and 10 weeks in January.
Pressure has increased on the RSA, with a spokesperson confirming to the Leitrim Observer that demand for driving tests has increased by 17 per cent so far this year. “Despite this, the driver testing service is managing this growth, having completed 120,967 tests by the end of May,” they continued. This compares with 92,327 during the same period last year.
“The RSA is maintaining an average waiting time of 10 weeks for higher category tests, including truck and bus licences,” they said.
Factors driving the increase in learner permits in Leitrim include population growth and an increased desire among individuals to learn how to drive.
Foreign driving licence exchanges nationally declined in 2025, from 30,017 in 2024 to 23,238 in 2025, with 9,385 so far this year.
Figures have shown that 22 driving test appointments were missed in Leitrim since January of this year, resulting in wasted test slots that could have been availed of by other candidates - adding further pressure to waiting lists as applicants must apply again. “In terms of impact to the driver testing system, if the person still wishes to take the test, this will mean another addition to the waiting list,” the RSA said.
Data from the Central Statistics Office further shows that a total of 66 tests were not conducted when candidates showed up to the Carrick-on-Shannon test centre between January and the end of May.
The RSA confirmed this happened for a number of reasons, including 21 cars not having insurance, 14 tests being abandoned due to weather conditions, 10 cars being deemed not roadworthy, six vehicles not being taxed, five without a valid NCT disc, four candidates arriving late to their test, four without their learner permit and two cars without L plates.
Driving tests delivered in Leitrim from January to May were as follows: 160 in May, 200 in April, 162 in March, 202 in February and 157 in January.
Pass rates at the Carrick-on-Shannon test centre have remained stable, with Carrick-on-Shannon recently ranked the second-best place in the country to sit a driving test in a study carried out by Quote Devil.
The driving test pass rates in Leitrim from January to the end of May this year were as follows: 65.5 per cent in May, 68.9 per cent in April, 71.1 per cent in March, 65.3 per cent in February and 52.5 per cent in January.
The RSA said it has made “measureable improvements” over the last year in addressing testing waiting times, with the current national average standing at 12 weeks.
“Throughout 2025, the RSA recruited and trained 64 new driver testers. There are currently 190 testers in the service, with a further 9 in training and an additional 4 scheduled to commence training in late July,” a spokesperson confirmed. The RSA said they focus on reducing processing times.
“The RSA is committed to ensuring that all applications are processed as efficiently as possible, while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the licensing system.” The figures underline the continuing demand for driving services in Leitrim, where increasing learner permit numbers and testing delays mirror wider national pressures on the RSA system.
While pass rates in Carrick-on-Shannon remain strong, growing waiting lists and missed appointments place added strain on the county’s driving test centre.