Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following:

"5.—Where a person applies to renew a learner permit but has not taken the driving test since the previous occasion on which the person was granted a permit, the licensing authority shall refuse the application if it is satisfied that the person has failed to take reasonable steps to obtain and fulfil an appointment to take the driving test.".

This amendment relates to my suggestion that people are required to take a driving test. That is not too much to expect. In recent years the Government has failed to tackle serious problems we have with provisional drivers. We have an intolerable situation whereby approximately 500,000 unqualified people drive various types of vehicles. There is no question but that is a factor in the poor accident rate in the country.

For a long time the Minister has spoken about what he will do in respect of the driving test system. However, the initiative of 45,000 additional tests is quite disappointing as it represents a drop in the ocean of what is actually required to tackle the problem and bring waiting lists down to an acceptable level of six to ten weeks within a reasonable time. The initiative states that waiting lists will be at 26 weeks within five years and will continue to deteriorate after that unless immediate action is taken.

An issue which came to my attention when I examined the situation is that people play the system. They drive on a provisional licence for two years and then apply for their next licence. All that is required is evidence that a person has applied to do a driving test and he or she does not need to actually do the test. The person then cancels the test and continues to drive on the new provisional driving licence he or she just received. That is done on a widespread basis.

Last year 23,000 tests were cancelled. If the Minister is serious about tackling this matter and bringing about sense or reason, it is obvious he must move to close that loophole. People are using the system. It represents an extraordinary waste of the tight resources in this area. We need all the test slots we can get. However, last year 23,000 were completely wasted at considerable expense to the taxpayer. It happens on an annual basis.

The Minister and his predecessor signalled they would bring an end to the practice of provisional licence holders driving unaccompanied which makes no sense whatsoever and does not happen anywhere else. It is a scandal and should be finished as quickly as possible. The Minister keeps stating it will be done as soon as the waiting lists are brought under control. However, that is a chicken and egg situation because the Minister must put in place a testing regime to ensure the system can cope with existing demand and he is not doing so. Sooner or later he must end that practice.

The Minister should move immediately to introduce a system whereby people are obliged to take a test before they can renew their licence. Surely, it is not too onerous or too much to expect that people sit a driving test. The Minister can do so at the stroke of a pen by agreeing to this amendment. A system can be in place within a year as most test centres have waiting lists reduced to less than a year. New provisional licences could be time-limited to one year and if holders wish to renew them they would have to show evidence they sat a test. It is a basic requirement.

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