Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I acknowledge the safe operating record as well. Those figures are fantastic. The Minister has set out very ambitious targets there and I hope they will be met. I ask the Minister to personally keep a close eye on it because it is so important to so many people.

What the Minister has said here this morning will be reassuring to the hundreds of people who have been in contact with my office. I am sure I speak for every Deputy in this House, as Deputies' offices are being inundated with callers who are waiting for driving tests and theory tests, particularly those who need it for work such as, for example, apprentices. It is a crucial part of living in the more isolated parts of the country. If you cannot drive a car, it is difficult to live any sort of a normal life and to get on with your day-to-day business.

I acknowledge that is a really impressive response. I welcome that extra effort in the hiring and that increased volume, and I thank the Minister.

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