As of Monday 24th May 2021, a date has not yet been confirmed for the resumption of the Driver Theory Test Service in Ireland. As such the service remains suspended until further notice as the Irish Government has deemed the Driver Theory Test as non-essential.

From 10 May 2021 however the following have been permitted in Ireland:

- You can travel outside of your county

- People from 3 households can meet outdoors (including in a garden), or 6 people from any number of households.

-Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors with other fully vaccinated people (up to a maximum of 3 households).

-Fully vaccinated people from a maximum of 2 households can meet indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household.

-Hairdressers, barbers and other personal services can reopen by appointment.

-Non-essential shops can offer click and collect services by appointment. Outdoor retail, like gardening centres, can reopen.

-Outdoor training can start for adults in pods of up to 15.

-Church services can be held. This does not include communions and confirmations.

-Museums, galleries, libraries and other indoor cultural activities can reopen.

-Outdoor organised events can take place with up to 15 people in attendance.

-Weddings can have 50 people at the service. Up to 15 can go to outdoor wedding celebrations and up to 6 can attend indoors.

-Funeral services can have up to 50 mourners.

- From 17 May 2021, all non-essential shops have reopened.

In line with the above easing of Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions on May 17th to include the re-opening of non-essential retail, we demand that the Irish Government reopen the Driver Theory Test centres around the country.

As the Government has deemed the Driver Theory Test as non-essential, it is perfectly within their remit to facilitate the reopening of this service (which many Irish people would actually consider essential) in line with the reopening of many other services around Ireland on the 17th May 2021.

It is nonsensical that this service continues to be denied to the citizens of Ireland when many other higher risk activities have already been allowed to resume.

Many people in rural Ireland are already being severely impacted by the lack of public transport, and this is a further blow that is absolutely unnecessary as the Driver Theory Test can be facilitated safely, hygienically and at a low risk of COVID transmission.