Plans mooted for driving test centre for this Kildare town
Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) has suggested a driving test centre for Leixlip, Co Kildare
Kildare County Council is to write to the Road Safety Authority seeking an update on proposed driving test centre locations in Leixlip.
The move is on foot of a motion raised by Social Democrats councillor, Nuala Killeen, at the June meeting of Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District, held on Friday, June 19 2026.
Cllr Killeen stated in her motion that her request followed “the need for a new centre, to meet the demand of the increased population and the long waiting list.”
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Killeen said she had received a request following a recent driving instructor stakeholder forum, which identified that the driving test offices were looking to increase their capacity by opening a centre in Leixlip.
To this end, she said, she was looking for Kildare County Council to identify potential sites in Leixlip, in consultation with the Road Safety Authority.
Given that there is such a backlog in driving test applications, she argued, a test centre in Leixlip would be most welcome.
READ NEXT: Feasibility study relating to potential re-opening of Kildare-based train station requested
As Cllr Killeen pointed out, currently learner drivers in Leixlip and surrounding areas have to travel to Mulhuddart driving test centre in Dublin 15, which has a 19 week waiting list at present.
The next closest test centre is Tallaght, she said, with a 14 week wait time, or alternatively a 40 minute drive to Naas.
Cllr Killeen said she believed that with population increase, it is “crucial” to have a driver test centre in North Kildare, which would reduce waiting times and make our roads safer overall.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) said that with Kildare being one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, it was “increasingly unreasonable” to expect residents of North Kildare to travel to Dublin and other places to be tested.
Supporting Cllr Killeen's motion, Cllr David Trost (FF) said that having a local driver test centre in North Kildare is “very important”, and is “well worth pursuing.”
Following agreement, the council will now write to the Road Safety Authority seeking an update on proposed driving test centre locations for Leixlip,