Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Deputy Crowe and I will be on the opposite sides of the same debate again today. In 2023, 14 unaccompanied learner drivers were involved in collisions. As I think one fatality is one too many I will base my remarks on driver safety and encouraging good behaviour on roads. I would like an update on the loophole that exists where learner drivers can apply for a test, not take one but continue to renew their learner permits. Has the loophole been closed? What actions is the RSA taking to address this?

More than a decade ago, the 2013-20 road safety strategy had a commitment to close the loophole by quarter 1 of 2014. Even in the last couple of years we have seen Ministers speak out and take action on this. Today, we are discussing waiting lists for driving tests and we know that this contributes to no-shows. In total, there were 8,863 no-shows in 2024. So learner drivers can continually renew their permit every year by sending the RSA the proof that they have applied for a driving test or by using an email that confirms they have requested to join the waiting list for a driving test. Therefore, these inexperienced drivers in some instances have never actually had to take a test. Please update me on what myself and others consider to be an extremely serious issue.