Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is the Minister going to do about that?

What are we to do about the young person who turned up for his test in the middle of the day two weeks ago and the tester refused to do the test because one of the tail-lights was not working? What are we to do with that same young fellow who, from that date, cannot apply for a retest until one month passes? What kind of rule is that? What are we going to do about those situations?

Why do we not have enough testers? Is there trouble with the unions? Are we being held over a barrel such that we cannot employ more testers? Surely there are people who are qualified and who could do the testing? Why can we not hire them? It is not fair to be holding up these people in this way.

Reference was made to the Local Link. The Minister announced eight routes in Kerry. One of them was agreed before the Minister ever dreamt up the idea. Route number 3 runs from Castlegregory to Cloghane. A car came on Tuesdays once a month for ten months. How is that going to help people who cannot get from A to B? Will the Minister expand the rural Local Link so that we can help young drivers who are waiting for their tests? That is an issue that I support and want addressed as well. We barely have enough school buses to take the children to school. Routes are being cut. Where fewer than ten children travel, the route is squashed. It is simply a way of getting out and saving money. Where is the Minister getting the money? Is it from the Leprechaun? Bus Éireann does not seem to have the money for the school run.

Where will this money come from?

It is not too late for him to do more assessments of what he is doing. I ask him to return to his plan and to live in a rural place in Kerry for at least a week without a car to see how he would manage. He might have his thumb up on the road with nothing passing. Maybe some fellow might know him but he would not stop for him because of what the Minister is trying to do to us. What he is proposing to do is not rural proofed in any way.

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