Mr. Aidan Jordan:

I thank the committee for inviting us here today. On the question of moving the theory test online, it would be more than welcome. It is well overdue and would help get people through the system. For example, I have been waiting for a date for my theory test for a motorcycle licence since last August. I am planning on learning with my daughter but we cannot get a date for the theory test. My test has been cancelled four times now, so I would welcome the opportunity to do the theory test online.

An interesting point on the theory test is that most countries ask learners to sit the theory test after they get their learner permit. I do a lot of research on international best practice in driver training and education, and it seems crazy that we ask learners to sit their theory test before they have their learner licence. It would make sense for learners to do their theory test while they are training, so that the two complement each other and learners can do the theory test while they are doing their lessons, and the two can work together. I believe that in England, learners must complete the theory test six weeks before their driver test, but the actual training is done while they are learning to drive. It makes a lot of sense to do the two of them together.

Another point on the theory test is that there are 80,000 candidates waiting to do the test. That is going to add significantly to the existing workload of driving instructors. That will also have to be taken into consideration. Perhaps it cannot be stagnated, but it will create a significant amount of work for ADIs.

On essential workers getting a test date, it is an issue on which I receive phone calls from customers all the time. They ask me when they can have a lesson or apply for their test, but I cannot give them a lesson until they have a test date. As the number of people who have a date for their test is falling, it is time to let these essential workers complete their essential driver training, EDT, to allow them to do the work to enable them to sit their test. That is well overdue. Essential workers should be allowed to complete their EDT to enable them to sit their driver test.

On the question of getting retired ADIs back to work, it is an excellent idea. There are also many part-time ADIs. We must also get them back into the business. They have left the business to do courier work or perhaps taxi work. They have gone into other delivery areas to try to make up their lost income, so it would be great to put together a package to encourage the retired and part-time instructors back into the business.

There is another point I wish to make on getting people back to work. When a learner driver starts his or her driving lessons, he or she must get an EDT log book. At present, the driving instructor has to pay for this log book before the student starts his or her lessons. There are currently 80,000 people waiting to sit their theory test. That will amount to a cost of €320,000 to be paid by driving instructors who must buy these log books to get these people through the system. It would make sense for the NDLS to provide the log book to the students rather than the driving instructors having to purchase them and give them to the students. It would be helpful.