More than 3,000 learner drivers in County Galway were on a waiting list for a driving test, according to the latest figures.

The Road Safety Authority has confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that some 3,189 learners in Galway are in the ‘waiting’ category.

This includes applicants who are eligible to sit their test and who will be invited once there are test slots available or who already have an open invitation to book themselves a test slot.

Some 489 learner drivers had tests scheduled and had an appointment date to take a test.

A further 2,587 learner drivers in Galway were on the ‘paused’ list, according to RSA. This is where applicants have been issued with an invitation to book a test but have not used it within 10 days.

There was a total of 1,362 learner drivers in Galway who were not eligible to sit a test. These include drivers who have a learner permit for less than six months or who have not completed all mandatory Essential Driver Training.

When all categories are included, the total number of applications for driving tests in County Galway stood at 7,627.

According to RSA, the most recent figures were correct as of November 2022.

A spokesperson for RSA said: “We no longer capture the average waiting time as each customer will have a wait time specific to them depending on when they were added to the waiting list.”

Despite this, it was reported in national media that would-be test applicants in Westside in Galway City have a 39-week wait.

Estimated wait times in Loughrea were over 30 weeks, it was 20 weeks in Tuam, and 21 weeks in Carnmore. At eleven weeks, Clifden had the shortest wait time.