Driving test centre in Drogheda to close tomorrow
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today confirmed the Driving Test Centre in Drogheda will close tomorrow.
In a statement, they say the current 2,717 people who have applied for a driving test in Drogheda are being asked to transfer their application to an alternative centre such as Navan or Dundalk.
Those awaiting a test are being assured that they will not lose their place in the queue, and they will slot into the queue relative to other candidates who have already applied to that centre.
This may lead to some candidates receiving an invite to book their test earlier than they would in Drogheda as other centres such as Dundalk are larger with more driver testers assigned.
A spokesperson for the RSA said the centre in Drogheda was closing due to the cessation of the lease and despite efforts to extend it, the RSA was unable to diminish the concerns of local residents.
“While we acknowledge that this may be an inconvenience for driving test customers and Approved Driving Instructors, we are left with no alternative given the current situation.”
The test centre is located at Drogheda Town Football Club in Marian Park.
This centre was a temporary solution to deliver driving tests in Drogheda town and the surrounding region, while the RSA searched for a more suitable location.
In a statement The RSA said:
"The process of trying to identify a suitable location to site a driving test centre in Drogheda has been very difficult, protracted, and frustrating for the RSA. Any proposed location must be sited on a suitable test route. There are limited options in selecting suitable test routes due to several issues but the main one being traffic congestion in the town. The RSA has examined many locations, and all were deemed unsuitable for various reasons including lack of parking, significant planning issues and health and safety issues.
"Despite this challenge, the RSA along with the Office of Public Works (OPW) continues to look for a suitable site, and we welcome support from local businesses, authorities, political representatives and stakeholders to find such a site as we are committed to providing a service in Drogheda.
"The RSA would like to thank the local representatives in Drogheda for their invaluable assistance in engaging with the local residents of Marian Park and in assisting in trying to identify a suitable location to site a driving test centre. We would also like to thank the residents of Marian Park for facilitating a temporary driving test centre for the past two years.”