Mr. Declan Naughton:

I fully agree that the relationship on the day between the driver tester and the customer is critical. Everyone is entitled to be treated with integrity, dignity and so on. We very much emphasise that in our training and when talking to driver testers to ensure that level of quality will be given to every customer who comes in. Whether it is the first or the 20th time he or she has taken the test, it is essential the customer be treated with dignity and respect.

As for the standard, we have a quality assurance policy. The initial phase of any quality assurance has to be the recruitment process, followed by the training and then the on-the-ground supervision that happens when testers are in their local test centres and assessing driving tests. They are the individual steps and that is monitored monthly. Of course there will be variation. I have examined data from throughout the EU and it is a reality that there are variations in terms of pass rates. Even in the case of the 2020 leaving certificate, there was a difference between the calculated grades and the exam results of previous years. Every driving test is different. There are different road, weather, pedestrian and traffic conditions. I assure the Deputy, however, that for the RSA, the integrity of the test is really important and we fully agree with him in that regard. Everything we do is to try to ensure the customer coming in the door will receive a fair, transparent test.

In regard to the taking on of driver testers, I would like to think that within the 18-month contract, the combination of training, supervision and so on will lead to a commitment on their behalf to be with us and to want to make a career with us in future if that opportunity arises for them.