Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Rural Independent Group for bringing forward this important motion.

Imagine being a young person growing up in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and being unable to afford to get a place to live or unable to get a driving licence. Is this really how we are treating young people? Is it any wonder they are emigrating in their droves? I completely acknowledge that the Minister of State was handed a ball of chaos, but we have had 13 years of Fine Gael in government. Putting Covid-19 aside and all the excuses out of the way, this is what has been created for young people. Some 71,000 people are waiting. As Deputy Kenny said, we are trying to encourage people to return to this country and we are driving them away.

The consequences of delays in driving tests are severe, especially in rural Ireland. The impacts on employment, access to education and access to healthcare have already been discussed this morning. It is stopping people getting on with their lives. The estimated week of invitation from the RSA in Castlebar is the week commencing 8 January 2024, but that is just an estimate. The response John got was that he would receive an invitation to book his test in the week commencing 25 March 2024. In Ballina, people will not be invited until 26 February 2024. Mixed messages are coming from everywhere. It is months before people can expect an invitation and they are also being told they need to quell their expectations. The RSA says the estimated waiting times can increase for various reasons outside its control, including tester availability. It says it is in the process of recruiting new driver testers and is committed to engaging with the Department of Transport. If it has to put in writing that it is committed to engaging with the Department, it says a lot. Why have we not recruited these driver testers before? It is crazy and it is typical of the Government to wait until we get into a cul-de-sac where people are forced into these situations. The figure of 71,000 people is a shame on the Government, on Fianna Fáil and on Fine Gael, which has been in government for 13 years.

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