Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 22:

In the fifth line of subparagraph (iv), proposed to be inserted by section 3(c), after “No. 537 of 2006).” to insert “Provided that the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply in circumstances where a driving test date has not been supplied to an applicant within a period of six weeks from the date of their application.”.

The Minister spoke about people being reckless and unaccountable. It is reckless that the State has failed to give young drivers a test. They go through all the procedures and then apply for their test. Currently, there are youngsters waiting up to six months to get a test. That has been proven. When new laws are being introduced new solutions must also be introduced. The problem is that even though these youngsters have done everything by the book as they were required to do, the State is failing in its obligation to give them a test even in a medium amount of time, which I would consider to be six weeks. There should be no reason for the State not being in a position to do that.

We constantly hear promises that more driver testers will be recruited, which is good, but the figures show that the situation is not improving. In fact, it is getting worse. If a youngster has gone through the different steps of getting their 12 driving lessons from a driving instructor, learning the rules of the road and doing everything he or she is supposed to do and is willing to sit a test, the State should have an obligation to provide it. It is recklessness and unaccountability on the part of the State. The State should give them the opportunity to do it within six weeks but it is leaving them for 19 or 20 weeks without a test even though they are ready for it. Before we impose rules on youngsters we should ensure that we have the procedures and enough driver tester personnel in place around the country.

The Minister referred to tractors and it is good that it is clarified. Many people did not know if it affected tractors, but it is good to know it does not have an effect if there is a single seat in it. The Minister said there is to be an accompanying driver. I believe we should be considering new ideas. I should be as good a driver two days before I pass the test as on the day I pass it, if I am going to pass it. I have said time and again that we should have a system whereby in places such as Mondello Park and other places in the west, south and north one can do an advanced type of driving course with a driving instructor so if the State is unable to give somebody the test the driving instructor could say that in his or her opinion a person is fit or able. One gets a piece of paper on the day one passes the test. Obviously, one has to be as good on the day before it but one does not have that piece of paper in one's hand. The big blockage is the failure of the State to ensure that these youngsters are given the opportunity. That is all we are seeking. Nobody is saying they should be able to travel around on the road in one way or another.

When I and other Deputies talk about rural Ireland we understand it. The Minister seems to be throwing shots across the bow at different public representatives about rural Ireland. To be quite blunt, between potholes in the roads and the different legislative measures being introduced, if the Minister is left much longer in his job he will be remembered in rural Ireland but it will be for the wrong reasons. As has been the case for many years, and I have made this very clear, there are parents in parts of rural Ireland who may have an income of €12,000 to €18,000. Their child might get the opportunity to go to college. The Minister will be well aware of the price of accommodation in Dublin and in other places around the country where there are colleges. Unfortunately, many parents cannot afford it. There is no point in beating around the bush about what has happened down through the years - a car was bought and the youngster would drive to college. We must ensure that we give such youngsters an equal opportunity, whether they live in Dublin, Donegal or Kerry, to do the test as quickly as possible. That piece of paper is a life saver and might be the difference between a youngster going to college or not going to college.

We can introduce laws and that is fine. After that, however, the State does not seem to be bothered. The law is in place and the State talks about recruiting driving instructors or driver tester personnel over the following six, eight or 12 months, but a large number of youngsters are seeking to do driving tests at present and, unfortunately, that facility is not available. To compound that we introduced something that has blocked the system further. There are many drivers who were backing trailers all their lives and then found out that they did not have it on their licence. They are seeking to sit a test. This issue should be checked in the different Departments, not just the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is also a matter for the county councils. The licences were shredded and the councils cannot now tell people if it was before 1991 or 1992 when they got their licences. That is a problem in various places. The councils went from paper to computerised records and whatever happened in the meantime - I am not blaming the Department - many people are now caught as a result of not having the information they should have.

The Department and especially the RSA talk about safety. The first thing I would do is ensure that there is no excuse for not being able to take a test. We should make sure that facility is available. Why is there such a big problem with a lack of driver testers?

Is it that there is not a budget or driving testers? There are many people around the country who are well qualified at driving that it does not take a year to get up to the spec that is required with the amount of licences.

Even in Dublin there is a shortage of testers. It is depriving youngsters of an equal opportunity if they are going to college or getting a job. Every Deputy gets phone calls every day of the week from people waiting for a driving test. It should be the number one priority to say that by next September we will guarantee every person that they will have a test within six weeks. If the Minister can do that, he can ensure he enforces whatever laws he wants to introduce. We are doing one thing on the one hand without solving the problem. This has not just happened in the Minister's time; I am not having a go at him about this. This goes back for a while.

The waiting time for a driving test is getting longer and longer. It is possible to get the theory test within a few days. It is a great facility and well set up. A person who gets less than 35 questions right out of 40 can be back again the following week. We need concrete information that within three months, nobody will be waiting for longer than six weeks.

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