A town in Tipperary has the lowest driving test pass rate in the country – with a Galway centre posting the highest.
New figures released to Newstalk under Freedom of Information Act show that less than 40% of people taking the test in Nenagh, Tipperary passed.
The pass rate in Loughrea, County Galway was nearly twice as high at 75%.
Nationally, the pass rate at the country’s 63 testing centres was just over 53%
The data highlights a big urban/rural divide – with five of the six lowest pass rates recorded at centres in Dublin.
Three of the top five pass rates were recorded in Galway, with one in Dublin and one in Cavan.
Dave Humphreys, Road Test Editor for CompleteCar.ie told Newstalk there are several reasons for lower pass rates in Dublin.
“Down the country, there are probably going to be less people or fewer people actually taking the tests so there are probably fewer tests taking place there,” he said.
“Also, the roads generally can be a little bit less busy and people can be a little bit more familiar with where they are, whereas in larger population centres such as Dublin, obviously the roads and the traffic situations are an awful lot busier.”
He said the situation leaves Dublin drivers facing more challenges.
“The test could be slightly more difficult mainly due to Dublin having much greater traffic volumes,” he said.
“So, there are potentially more cases for, just on the day of the actual test itself, you could run into some issues that will maybe make your actual test a little bit more difficult than maybe doing it somewhere down the country where the roads are quieter and people may feel a little bit less pressure.”
You can find the full list of pass rates here:
| Nenagh | 39.56% |
| Finglas | 42.43% |
| Charlestown (Dublin) | 42.72% |
| Mulhuddart | 44.37% |
| Raheny | 45.16% |
| Mulhuddart (Carlton Hotel) | 45.61% |
| Galway (Carnmore) | 46.27% |
| Drogheda | 46.38% |
| Tallaght | 48.33% |
| Cork (St. Finbarr's GAA Club Togher) | 49.42% |
| Skibbereen | 49.85% |
| Carlow Talbot Hotel | 50.56% |
| Tralee | 50.94% |
| Gorey | 51.07% |
| Waterford | 51.10% |
| Dun Laoghaire / Deansgrange | 52.13% |
| Naas | 52.24% |
| Dundalk | 52.26% |
| Kilkenny (Govt Buildings) | 52.29% |
| Tipperary | 52.40% |
| Shannon | 52.45% |
| Limerick (Roxboro) | 52.46% |
| Wexford | 52.70% |
| Limerick - Castlemungret | 53.31% |
| Cork (Wilton) | 53.35% |
| Sligo | 53.56% |
| Tullamore | 53.79% |
| Dungarvan | 53.82% |
| Buncrana | 54.33% |
| Galway (Westside) | 55.23% |
| Ballina | 55.35% |
| Wicklow | 55.53% |
| Mallow (Cork Racecourse Mallow) | 55.59% |
| Limerick - Woodview | 55.89% |
| Carlow | 55.98% |
| Kilrush | 56.06% |
| Portlaoise | 56.31% |
| Kilkenny (O'Loughlin Gaels) | 56.62% |
| Killarney | 57.06% |
| Mullingar | 57.77% |
| Roscommon | 57.78% |
| Birr | 58.50% |
| Longford | 58.64% |
| Ennis | 58.92% |
| Letterkenny | 59.03% |
| Navan | 59.34% |
| Newcastle West (Longcourt House Hotel) | 59.35% |
| Athlone | 59.69% |
| Castlebar | 59.74% |
| Tuam | 59.93% |
| Donegal | 60.00% |
| Mallow | 61.56% |
| Clonmel | 61.66% |
| Carrick On Shannon | 62.21% |
| Birr (County Arms Hotel) | 62.80% |
| Thurles | 63.55% |
| Monaghan | 64.21% |
| Newcastle West | 65.28% |
| Cavan | 66.38% |
| Loughrea (Lough Rea Hotel & Spa) | 67.75% |
| Killester | 68.77% |
| Clifden | 71.60% |
| Loughrea | 74.70% |
