Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. It is an issue I raised almost a year ago, on 22 June 2005, and, unfortunately for my constituents, it has not yet been resolved. It is unacceptable that I must raise it once more.

Since driver testing commenced more than 40 years ago in Killarney, a range of temporary testing centres have been used. In the past year, however, the situation has reached crisis proportions with the closure of the driver testing centre at Park Road, Killarney. This resulted in the cancellation of all tests for a two-week period, further compounding the waiting lists. A temporary base was established at the Quality Hotel in Killarney but it was soon closed with the cancellation of testing for a further three weeks. These setbacks have combined to create a 37-week waiting list, with approximately 2,500 provisional licence holders awaiting their test.

The Killarney driving test centre now has a temporary base at the Áras Pádraig centre, with a four-month lease period having commenced on 1 May. The testers correctly fear that when this lease expires there will be further test cancellations and a further extension of the waiting list. The centre is located on a busy main road and is unsuitable as a testing location.

The problem with the current temporary centre is that only cars and light vans are being tested because the centre does not have the capacity to cope with heavy goods vehicles, HGVs. No HGV tests have been carried out in Killarney for several weeks, thus creating a backlog of HGV tests. HGV test applicants who telephone Ballina are advised there will be no HGV testing in Killarney for the foreseeable future. Tralee has one HGV instructor but does not have a truck to facilitate tests. Killarney has two testers with trucks for test candidates and the only driving instructor able to provide an articulated truck for test purposes lives in Killarney.

Killarney racecourse has been approached with a view to providing a base for the test centre and it has sought planning permission to alter its property accordingly. Why has the Government not acquired a suitable premises for the centre? How much longer must we wait before this problem is resolved? Against a backdrop of eight tragic road deaths so far this year in Kerry, it is unacceptable for driving testers and candidates alike that there is no permanent base for driver testing in Killarney. The Minister for Transport makes much of his commitment to get provisional licence holders off the road, but he has not shown this commitment in Killarney. It is now time for the Department of Transport and the Office of Public Works to come together, identify a permanent base for driver testing in Killarney and fund the provision of that centre immediately.

Killarney covers a huge area, incorporating all of south Kerry and part of Cork. Driving testers and test applicants in the area deserve better and have been fobbed off for several years. Will the Minister give a commitment to a permanent base for the driving test centre and that HGV testing will be facilitated there?

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