Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Recently, I received a report of tests being cancelled in Raheny where people, who had test appointments and were ready to go, were notified by telephone that no tester was available. There may be an issue with that.

I agree with Deputy Broughan. While the Minister has accepted this mammoth task of meeting his deadline of 30 June, at the same time a question to his Department has been disallowed in respect of the standards of testers and the pass rates. The Minister should be responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of those tests and the differences that arise between the RSA testers and the SGS. I will give three examples. In Finglas and Fonthill in Dublin, where the RSA and the SGS tested approximately 5,000 applicants each, the pass rate is 18% higher with SGS, which is a significant difference. In Limerick, where slightly fewer people were tested by SGS and 3,500 were tested by RSA, the difference in the pass rate is 19%. In Naas, where the RSA pass rate is 50%, the SGS pass rate is 14% higher. Allowing for the fact that there may be reasons that the SGS is getting applicants who would be longer on the list and longer waiting to get their tests initially, and who would therefore have had more driving experience, nevertheless, this variation is a matter of deep concern.

I spoke to the Road Safety Authority and I acknowledge that it is extremely helpful, but I am still concerned. I ask the Minister to discuss the matter with the RSA. There must be accountability to the Minister and, through him, to us on this testing issue. It may appear to some that a person going to the SGS rather than to the RSA has a much better chance of passing and that is not acceptable. We need the Minister to be accountable here for those issues.

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