The drivers, who work at the Road Safety Authority (RSA), say the RSA does not provide an effective insurance verification system for vehicles driven by members of the public during tests, leaving the testers exposed to claims.
Their union, Fórsa, on Thursday night announced industrial action after the failure of conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
They said the industrial action will start with a full one-day work stoppage on Friday February 20, and they will also stage indefinite industrial action, refusing to carry out a driving test unless a valid certificate of insurance is produced by the candidate.
They said the last of three conciliation meetings took place on Thursday, with no resolution.
Fórsa said the lack of a proper insurance verification system, and inadequate indemnity protections, have left staff exposed, and under pressure to proceed with tests in circumstances that would be unacceptable in any other area of public service.
The union said the RSA had rejected union proposals to reform the standard operating procedure for driving tests.
Fórsa official Ruairi Creaney said: “Currently, driver testers are not fully covered by the State Claims Agency while carrying out their duties, particularly when conducting tests in uninsured vehicles.
“The absence of access to a national insurance verification system means there is no reliable way to confirm that vehicles presented for tests are properly insured. Exposing driver testers to this level of potential risk makes no sense.”
“An uninsured vehicle is not a roadworthy vehicle and presents an unacceptable risk to the public. Driver testers are taking this action both in defence public safety, and to ensure their own workplace is safe,” he said
Fórsa driver tester members voted for action last December, with 95pc voting in favour, on a turnout of 83pc.
The RSA previously said that it confirmed “that driver testers are fully indemnified whilst carrying out their duties as public servants.”