New figures released, from the Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA) to the Irish Road Haulage Association under FOI, reveal that there were 388,090 learner permit holders on Irish roads at the end of March 2026 – 6,219 more than at the same date in 2025 – one year ago.
President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Ger Hyland, told Wexford Weekly:
“It shows that the RSA is not making real progress on driver testing backlogs and that the figures indicate that the RSA is out of their depth, unable to manage driver testing and failing at road safety,” he said.
Rapid increase in learner drivers since Covid
Between 2013 and 2019, the number of learner drivers on our roads was consistently below 250,000 drivers. That began to increase dramatically post Covid, going from 255,142 learner drivers on our roads in 2020 up to 388,090 by March 31st, 2026.
| Year | Number of learner drivers on Irish Roads |
| 2013 | 227,197 |
| 2014 | 235,878 |
| 2016 | 249, 657 |
| 2020 | 255,142 |
| 2024 | 375,190 |
| March 2025 | 381, 871 |
| March 2026 | 388, 090 |
IRHA President, Ger Hyland, has said that more than 1 in 10 drivers on Irish roads are on a learner permit.He questioned the impact on road safety whilst saying we are on course for a further deterioration in road death statistics in 2026,
“Road deaths are spiralling. As of June 3rd, Garda figures show that 73 people had lost their lives on Irish roads, 6 more deaths than on the same day in 2025 – an already bad year for road safety”
Hyland said the levels of inexperienced learner drivers on our roads “beggars belief” at a time when road deaths are climbing, and the RSA have a budget of millions of euro to manage our driver testing system.
“388,090 inexperienced learner drivers on our roads is a testament to the failure of the Road Safety Authority and their mismanagement of our driver testing system. It is a mess and not getting any better, despite all the creative accounting that the RSA are doing with driver testing figures”
Hyland pointed to Garda figures which show that 11,621 fixed charge notices were issued nationally by Gardaí in 2025 to learner drivers caught driving without a fully licensed driver. That is an increase of 1,069 or 10% on 2024. Hyland said this points to an increasing number of desperate young drivers taking a chance and driving unaccompanied to get to college or work in rural Ireland.
Hyland described Irish roads as dangerous places for his members and accused the RSA of failing on their road safety mandate.
Hyland said that the IRHA no longer has confidence in the ability of the RSA to manage and reduce road deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
“388,090 learner drivers on our roads tells it’s own story. The RSA have ducked, dived and dodged accountability and transparency and it is high time that Minister Sean Canney called them to task. If they cannot clear the backlog – then let someone else take it over and run it”
| County | Learner Permit holders March 31st 2025 | Learner Permit holders March 31st 2026 | Increase in number of learner drivers on our roads in 12 months |
| Carlow | 5,147 | 5,516 | +369 |
| Cavan | 5,591 | 5,863 | +272 |
| Clare | 7,659 | 7,531 | -128 |
| Cork | 42,660 | 42,810 | +150 |
| Donegal | 9,872 | 10,123 | +251 |
| Dublin | 118,865 | 121,127 | +2,262 |
| Galway | 18,470 | 18,870 | +400 |
| Kerry | 10,348 | 10,636 | +288 |
| Kildare | 19,583 | 19,066 | -517 |
| Kilkenny | 6,865 | 6,870 | +5 |
| Laois | 6,700 | 6,895 | +195 |
| Leitrim | 2,281 | 2,306 | +25 |
| Limerick | 14,966 | 15,312 | +346 |
| Longford | 3,687 | 3,687 | 0 |
| Louth | 10,968 | 11,381 | +413 |
| Mayo | 8,763 | 9,096 | +333 |
| Meath | 15,772 | 15,440 | -332 |
| Monaghan | 3,643 | 3,790 | +147 |
| Offaly | 5,758 | 6,067 | +309 |
| Roscommon | 4,385 | 4,314 | -71 |
| Sligo | 4,574 | 4,743 | +169 |
| Tipperary | 12,709 | 12,913 | +204 |
| Waterford | 10,600 | 11,008 | +408 |
| Westmeath | 8,201 | 8,489 | +288 |
| Wexford | 11,909 | 12,215 | +306 |
| Wicklow | 11,895 | 12,022 | +127 |
| Total National | 381,871 | 388,090 | +6,219 |
Dublin still has the highest numbers of learner permit holders (121,127) increasing by 2,262 learner drivers in 12 months. Cork has the second highest number of learner drivers in the country (42,810) an increase of 150 learner drivers in 12 months.
The figures show that the largest cohort of learner drivers (95,868) are between the ages of 30- 39 indicating that drivers are leaving it late to undertake their driving test. 81,538 learner drivers were between 17-20. Surprisingly, 462 learner drivers nationally were over 80 years of age.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
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