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Over 600 people had to resit the test as a result of a technical fault Gareth Chaney/Photocall Ireland

Hundreds had to re-sit theory test thanks to a computer glitch (but it could have been a lot worse)

In total, 1,216 people were told they had failed the test when they had actually passed

A COMPUTER GLITCH which resulted in hundreds of people having to resit the driver theory test could have potentially been a lot more damaging to road users, the AA has said.

The glitch meant that over 1,200 people were told that they had failed the test when they had in fact passed.

The driver theory test consists of 40 questions selected randomly from 1,250 potential ones. You have to get 35 answers right out of 40 in order to pass.

A technical error meant that one question of the 1,250 on the test came up marked as the incorrect answer when it was answered correctly.

The glitch entered the system on 26 June after a routine software upgrade and was in the system until it was spotted in November, after someone complained about their test result.

Of the the 1,216 candidates who failed the test as a result of the glitch, 610 had already re-taken it. Nobody passed the test who should have failed.

A spokesperson for AA Ireland said that although it was an error from the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the matter could have been a lot worse if the mistake had happened the other way around, and people who had failed the test had been told that they had passed.

“It would be significantly worse in terms of mopping up afterwards if it had been the other way around – if people who had actually failed had been told in error that they had passed,” said the spokesperson.

learner driver Learner Drivers Gareth Chaney / Photocall Ireland Gareth Chaney / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), which delivers the test, apologised to anyone who was affected by the glitch.

In a statement, the RSA said that they had almost tracked down all of the people who had been given incorrect test scores and were giving a refund to anyone who had to take the test again.

“We have successfully contacted almost 100% of the affected candidates and less than 100 remain uncontacted,” they said.

“Further attempts will be made and we hope to reach remaining individuals by 23 November close of business.”

The AA spokesperson said that they expect the RSA to tighten up monitoring of their computer systems following the glitch.

“I feel sure that extra checks and balances will be put in place to ensure that it won’t happen again,” said the spokesperson.

“You could of course promise that there wouldn’t be another computer mistake in the future, but that would be a naive promise to make.”

Read: This driver tried to fool gardaí with a fake driver’s licence – and failed

Read: The courts say they have an 86% conviction rate for drink-driving

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24 Comments
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    Mute John
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:32 PM

    The amount of love for the Pope and the Catholic Church that was shown this week, is so heart-warming and beautiful, the love and joy

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    Mute Mary Linton
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:36 PM

    @John: and DESERVED John, our Holy Father was an all encompassing true man of God. R.I.P. Pontiff

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    Mute John
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:38 PM

    @Mary Linton: indeed, Mary

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    Mute John
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:40 PM

    @Mary Linton: I don’t think the Catholic Church is dwindling as much as the angry atheists like to believe it is :)

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    Mute Mary Linton
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:44 PM

    @John: hoping & praying the conclave annoints a worthy successor to Francis, a forward thinking man of vision, humility & unity.

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    Mute martin lawlor
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:57 PM

    @John: B.ll.x, the amount of disrespect towards the Catholic Church and dearly deceased Pope was shocking between the Politicians grandstanding and half the disrespectful clowns on here, it’s disgusting.
    I’m old enough to remember Pope John Paul II passing in 2005 , the respect and mourning that man had from Ireland was immense.Ive witnessed half the clowns on here with there comments and it’s quite disgusting.In 20 year’s have we lost all respect, all dignity, really??

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    Mute John
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    Apr 26th 2025, 9:15 PM

    @martin lawlor: angry atheists, Martin, they have to have something to do, being bitter is one of those things

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    Mute offside again
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    Apr 26th 2025, 10:57 PM

    @John: yawn

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    Mute offside again
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    Apr 26th 2025, 10:58 PM

    @Mary Linton: Hi cutie

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    Mute offside again
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    Apr 26th 2025, 11:04 PM

    @John: the idea of yourself and mary in the front row at mass on a sunday is making me hallucinate.

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    Mute j m m
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    Apr 27th 2025, 1:47 AM

    @martin lawlor: really Martin? Maybe you’re dismayed at the genuine fact that, apart from yourself. Most of the free thinking Irish people have made the conscientious decision to distance themselves away from the RC cult (needless to mention the abusive atrocity of their last 90 yr reign in this country) and ANY fate of their representatives. They’re (rc) irrelevant! Not an Atheist view. Frankly, I’m getting pist off of the faux sanctimony of your like on these comments over the last 5 days. Move the f on!

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    Mute Noel Doherty
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    Apr 27th 2025, 2:55 AM

    @John: how dare we speak our mind, down with that sort of thing

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Apr 27th 2025, 5:56 AM

    @John Doe: I don’t think sanctimony is supposed to be part of Catholic doctrine

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    Mute Regular John
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    Apr 27th 2025, 11:50 AM

    @John Doe:
    What a way to live, full of anger and hate ! A bit of religion would do them good.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:56 PM

    All the comments here so far have been made by one person, using three accounts.

    It seems that some things never change.

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Apr 26th 2025, 9:01 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: look what the cat dragged in……… The official ” head of trolling” as he self- titled himself over on trustpilot, the supreme multi account muppet

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 26th 2025, 9:02 PM

    @Buster Lawless: Make that one person, using four accounts.

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    Mute martin lawlor
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    Apr 26th 2025, 9:03 PM

    @Buster Lawless: Clown

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    Mute offside again
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    Apr 26th 2025, 11:37 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: you have more than 1 account. It’s so obvious. Deny it all you want but your sanctamonious moralising can be recognised a mile away.

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    Mute JP
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    Apr 27th 2025, 12:02 AM

    Fair play to President Higgins for his statement about Gaza. A situation that greatly saddened Pope Francis.

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    Mute j m m
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    Apr 27th 2025, 1:49 AM

    @JP: pope fra, could’ve easily put more spotlight on this, but yes, well done Mr Higgins.

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    Mute j m m
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    Apr 27th 2025, 8:51 AM

    @John Doe: tired jim doing his best to rile folk at 3.59am…. páťhéťíć ťŕòĺl

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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Apr 26th 2025, 11:46 PM

    I hope this is the last article about the Pope’s funeral. It has been flogged to the death by the Journal

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Apr 27th 2025, 12:14 AM

    @Patrick MC Dermott: considering the funeral is finished, I imagine it will be

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 26th 2025, 8:50 PM

    Respect to the pope and holy father. God bless in peace.

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    Mute frank dowling
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    Apr 27th 2025, 5:43 AM

    Higgins couldn’t help himself having another of his favourite anti Israeli rants at the Pope’s funeral..
    Couldn’t just leave it be, nope, not our virtual signalling little president..
    Didn’t mention Yemen or Sudan did he, ? Not at all, no Jews = no News is his agenda..
    The sooner he’s gone the better ..

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    Mute j m m
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    Apr 27th 2025, 8:55 AM

    @frank dowling: he’s the only man to address the onslaught in front of these supposed leaders. Pope Fra would’ve welcomed the use of his funeral to promote one ounce of peace.

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    Apr 27th 2025, 10:04 AM

    @frank dowling: he was asked by a reporter what he thought of Pope Francis’s support for the people of Gaza and the backlash he faced as a result.

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Apr 27th 2025, 4:40 PM

    @frank dowling: A self-regarding narcissist who can’t keep his mouth shut!

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Apr 27th 2025, 11:15 PM

    Gosh I got bored reading this article as it sounds like “they treated us journalists with detain” you need to fight for a story and need to figure out ways to get the best story!! Having a pass just creates the same story – sorry I’m bored perhaps it got better toward the end (is the pope all be again?!?)

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    Mute Janaina Pilar
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    Apr 27th 2025, 11:40 AM

    so they could have used the stairs all along and yet chose to queue for that elevator… I’m sure some were having some Jerusalem Syndrome related delusions and thinking they’d be going up to heaven

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