Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not the first time we have spoken here about how long it takes to get a test. Many promises were made and previously, excuses around Covid-19 and particular issues were made, but we need to get down to a level where we can provide people with the possibility of getting a driving licence faster than six months. It needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Some of my colleagues raised other issues. I thank the Rural Independent Group. I have no doubt that everyone has brought up the issue of students who require a licence. It is more important than it was a number of years ago because they cannot get accommodation where they are studying. It will impact on people's ability to get jobs and so on and that is before we talk about the HGV drivers who are required. We have all talked about streamlining these services. We need to look at that and at the likes of the Drive Virtual Driving Academy Paul Brady operates in Dundalk. In France, simulated lessons are sometimes seen as lessons and can be built into a curriculum. Simulators and other technology are used and can be used by companies from a safety point of view.

I cannot let this moment pass without talking about the fact that we have had an horrific time on our roads. We lost ten people tragically, two of whom were lost close to where I live. Chris Bradley from Desertmartin, County Derry, who was a drummer with Declan Nerney, died in a collision on the M1 on Saturday, 14 October and Wayne Lynch who was from Drumcashel and was involved with Stabannon Parnells Gaelic football club died in the early hours of 8 October as a pedestrian. These accidents are caused by various things but action needs to be taken. I have received calls in my office about lighting issues on the M1, which I will come back to. People have been told lights have been put down in certain places, due to the carbon footprint of the company, but it does not work. We need to look at lighting for tractors as haulage companies have contacted me about that.

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