Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I have sympathy with Deputy Shortall's amendment and I agree that many people refuse to take the test. However, I feel consideration for older people should be entered into the equation. I asked a parliamentary question about the number of people over 65 years of age who are on provisional licences, and the reply was a couple of thousand.

Many of them have been driving for years and have never been involved in an accident. Many of them do not drink. They live alone in isolated rural areas and use the car as an essential lifeline. A restricted category should be created whereby an older person would still be allowed to go to the church or shop. This could be confined to daylight hours or a certain radius of, perhaps, five to ten miles.

I have been approached by many such people who have driven on provisional licences without incident for more than 20 years. They travel only limited distances. Perhaps they could have got a licence in the past but did not do so. They feel they would be unfairly discriminated against if they had to take a test because when they receive an invitation to take a test they feel threatened. They want a concession equivalent to one for younger people who are waiting for a driving test but who, in the future, may have to undergo mandatory training and spend an interval before they can apply for a licence.

Otherwise, these people in their mid-60s and mid-70s who live in remote areas will not be able to go to shops or to church on Sundays. They do not drink. They may be unable to take the test because it is too complicated. It is not that they do not want to do what is right, of course they do. However, at the same time they do not want to be stranded. They would settle for a limited test or a compulsory training programme if necessary.

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