Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Wade, Mr. Naughton and Mr. Rowland for their contributions to the meeting and for the information and facts they have given us, which are very interesting. This is a huge issue throughout Ireland, and in particular in rural Ireland and my constituency of Tipperary. Many of the general questions I had wished to ask have been asked and I will not repeat them. The delays are causing significant problems for young people especially and have implications for jobs, the economy and insurance premiums being levied on young people while they await a test. As I understand it from the figures, 68,000 people are awaiting a test, 30,000 are in the process of taking lessons, and 80,000 are awaiting the theory test. It might be too much to ask but do our guests have the figures to hand for the waiting lists in Tipperary? If not, I would appreciate it if they forwarded them to me.

I have a slight concern about the issue of testers. Additional testers are needed, but given that many of them will work part time, I worry about their commitment to the job. I am looking at this in the context of standardisation across the system. It is not unusual for me to be told by a person who has taken a test that he or she had a stickler of a tester. There seems to be a variation in the reactions of people who have taken a test. Some of them find the test person to have been very nice and approachable and tell me he or she understood that they were nervous, treated them with care and gave them the kind of attention they deserve, whereas in other cases, people have told me that the tester was not nice to them. For instance, I know of one tester who failed five people in one week, each of whom had been through lessons and had done the necessary preparation. How are tests benchmarked within the RSA system? How does the RSA ensure an equal standard across the system? I am concerned about that number of people being brought in on a temporary, 18-month contract. How can it be guaranteed that a temporary tester will be as good or as qualified as someone who is permanent and has been working within the system for years?

I very much welcome the submission that Mr. Rowland made in respect of e-scooters. I am in favour of e-scooters but they must be strictly regulated. We have all been to countries where e-scooters are licensed. It is terrible to see them zigzagging between cars and on footpaths between people, where they are a danger to pedestrians. I support many of the items within the submission.