After waiting 257 days for my licence to arrive from the DVA, with COVID-19 stopping lessons shortly after, on the 28th of February 2022, I passed my practical test and can drive on my own :D
Massive kudos to my driving instructor, Paul Rice, for booking me in so quickly; I had a week to go from the test day on my theory test before it expired. In fact, a DVA examiner before the test told me that I couldn't have picked anyone better!
It was 8 months of waiting, but has now finished out at around three years.
Apply for a Northern Irish driving licence
You can contact me at my email
With thanks to https://github.com/andrewbolster/howlonghasnorthernirelandnothadagovernment.com and https://github.com/hearmecode/days-since
I wonder how much insurance will be... hmmm