Mr. Dominic Brophy:

In regard to the driver test, we believe the pass rate should be higher. The following statistic will surprise the committee. In 2002, before the RSA was established and EDT lessons became a requirement, the pass rate was 57%. Nearly 20 years later, with the RSA and EDT in situ, the pass rate is 54%. This begs the question as to why the pass rate is not increasing. It is our belief that the pass rate does not increase because the public is not fully informed about what is required under the EDT system. It is not 12 lessons; it was 12 EDT lessons and, in between each EDT lesson, at least three hours driving with a sponsor or a driving instructor.

We also have in place a system that encourages learner drivers to drive accompanied by a full licence holder such as their mother, father, brother or sister. This is leading to high insurance costs for 17 and 18 year olds. Last week, one of my customers was quoted €8,000 for car insurance. If we want people to pass their test, we have to give them the best chance to pass it. We need to explain to them that it is not the case that they need only take 12 driving lessons and then they will be ready for a test. If we are to continue to encourage learner drivers to drive accompanied by family members who hold a full licence, we have to make it affordable in the context of the insurance industry for them to come onto the roads. There is no point telling a 17 or 18 year old that it will cost up to €8,000 for one year's insurance. That is possible for affluent families, but in our experience most learner drivers do not have their own car or the finances to meet that level of cost. We need to find a way to communicate with the public about what they need to do to prepare for a driver test. We need to overhaul the EDT system and make it more test-friendly, which in itself will allow pass rates to increase naturally.