That is significantly above the ten-week target as set out in the service level agreement with the Department of Transport. Before the Covid pandemic, the waiting time was around six weeks. Ten weeks should not be the target; it should be the worst-case scenario. As a union, we want to bring it down to five or six weeks as it was before the pandemic.
In February 2023, the CEO of the RSA, Sam Waide, told the committee that for driver testing to function properly it needs a core group of 170 permanent driver testers. As I said, at the minute it stands at around 125, well short of what we need to deliver the quality public service that Irish people deserve.
Many complications arise out of using insecure temporary contracts in the workplace. Even setting aside the industrial relations issues and the disputes that arise out of that, on a human level being on them is not something workers would envy. One of the greatest ironies here is that a significant number of the driver testers cannot even apply for a car loan because they do not have the job security to do so. They cannot apply for a mortgage because they do not have job security to prove to the bank that they can make the repayments. That has real implications for the lives of our members and we have been mandated to deliver on that.
Another complicating factor is the rollover of staff. On two separate occasions the RSA has allowed the temporary contracts of driver testers to expire. Around 30 driver testers have been let go despite waiting lists still remaining at an historical high. The first batch of 24 were let go in July 2022 and a further seven were let go in February and March this year. Fórsa is currently engaged in the WRC process with RSA management on that. It is incredible that the waiting time to get a driver test is still around 24 weeks and the RSA is allowing well-qualified and experienced staff to become unemployed.
I asked a number of those people to come here today with me. None of them was willing to come simply because they are unemployed at the minute and as qualified driver testers, they want to be driver testers again. They feel that by putting themselves forward in the public arena here, they might jeopardise their chances of getting back into the RSA. I am not saying that is caused directly by anything management has done but it is just the reality of being on a temporary contract. They feel less secure and less able to stand up for their rights and articulate what they should be getting through their employment.
One of the most incredible things that happened was that after these seven people were let go, a communication was sent out to driver testers to take part in a voluntary overtime scheme. The RSA offered people a bonus in order to bring down the waiting lists. This was a day or two after seven staff were let go. There was a firm instruction from the union, under pressure from our members, telling our members not to engage with that overtime scheme.
First, it was very unfortunate that the communication was issued at that time. The seven testers who were let go found it very insulting, as members can imagine, and it certainly angered a lot of the permanent staff. Fórsa members are not engaging in the scheme and the union stands full square behind them. That is because relying on overtime to run a public service is no way to do business and it highlights the absurdity of the current situation.
Members might recall that last October 140 drivers testers from across the country signed a Fórsa petition calling for permanent positions in the RSA. Indeed, our petition was sent to every member of this committee, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers. The petition highlights that this is not just an issue for temporary testers. Our members on permanent contracts, who have been there for a long time, feel this every bit as much as their temporary colleagues because they see this as a way of undercutting their terms and conditions in the long run and, potentially, weakening their bargaining power. They are prepared to put their names on public record and send it to the CEO of the RSA, the Minister for Transport and his Minister of State. Around 90% of the workforce signed the petition which shows the depth of feeling about this issue among our members.
I reiterate that the union's firm position is that we are in agreement with management on the need for 170 permanent driver testers, which requires an extra 40 to 50 jobs permanent jobs to be sanctioned by the Department. We call on the management to do that, as a matter of urgency. We also call on the Department of Transport to sanction that request, as a matter of urgency.
Our members deliver the service and understand the massive frustration that exists among the Irish public towards the driver testing service due to the ridiculous waiting times. To be honest, a lot of our members bear the brunt of that frustration and feel it on a daily basis. There has been an increased number of complaints submitted to the RSA about the driver testing service. Our members do not want to be going into work delivering a service to a frustrated public. They want to deliver a world-class public service with the waiting times that existed a few years ago and just before Covid. In order for our members to do that, extra permanent jobs are needed. I thank the Deputies and Senators for listening to me today, and thank them for any assistance they can be to our members in that endeavour.
