Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Synnott. However, the matter needs to be kept under review. I ask that there be in-house consideration of it.

I have two more questions. Mr. Waide might answer them. Regarding the driving test backlog, I will be parochial and speak about County Clare. We have been given the national figures. Based on the current testing rate, which is 4,000 a month, how long will it take to clear the national backlog? There needs to be a bit of geographical bias in trying to clear it. Youngsters growing up in Dublin or the commuter-belt counties have an array of public transport facilities on their doorstep. If they do not get their driving licence, there is a plan B, C and D. There are many ways to get about the city and its environs. That is far less the case for people living in the west of Ireland. If people are very lucky, there is a morning bus to take them where they want to go and a return bus that will take them back to their home place or somewhere near it in the evening. Many people rely on the taxi of mom or dad. We still see people thumbing a lift in the west, which is not much seen in Dublin. People stand on the roadside trying to get from A to B, which is dangerous and archaic at this stage. There needs to be a geographical bias in dealing with the backlog, whereby counties in the west are treated preferentially ahead of more urbanised counties with public transport systems. Will Mr. Waide give an indication as to the where the RSA is at in clearing the backlog and what can be done for counties like Clare?