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

Let me start and we will see how we get on.

On a point of clarification, many people have given statistics but so far I do not think anyone has got them right in respect of the waiting times in County Kerry. According to the Road Safety Authority the longest waiting time for a driver test recorded in the Tralee centre is 27 weeks while in Killarney it is 26 weeks. I am fairly sure that I can stand up for our local radio station, Radio Kerry. The Minister can look up its website,www.radiokerry.ie, and see that that is where I got those statistics. Those statistics would not be there unless they were factual and verifiable. The Minister said that extra driver testers will be appointed and that he is allowing for 67 extra testers to be put in place. How many new testers does he propose to give us in County Kerry to deal with the figures that I have outlined? I deal daily with the young people who the Minister is hurting with what he is proposing. They are telling me that it is extremely unfair to get their full licence in order that they can get on in life, they are being told that they must wait. If the Minister and those supporting him get their way, they will tie those people down at home, stopping them from working and from furthering their education. However, the Minister has not said what he will put in place for them.

The one thing that those people deserve to hear tonight is precisely what the Minister will do for the people in County Kerry in relation to more funding, support and testers. He should have that done before bringing in this legislation. What Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said to the Minister earlier was very fair. If it is what he is proposing, he should do it before railroading the legislation through. It is very poorly thought out.

See this speech in context