Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the fact that this issue is now on his radar and that measures are being taken to address the problem. I remember working as Jimmy Deenihan's parliamentary assistant back in the early 2000s. At that stage, trying to get driving tests for people who needed their licences for the purposes of work was a real problem. It improved for a while, but it has greatly regressed in recent years.

I acknowledge the efforts which have been made. Deputy Higgins's question related to the possible use of weekend testing to clear the backlog. If the Minister of State is confident that the measures which have been taken will address this issue, however, that is well and good. I look forward, hopefully, to acknowledging that in the Chamber in the months to come. I ask the Minister of State to keep a very close eye on this matter because it affects people in a significant way in the context of their everyday ability to take up employment and to be able to get from A to B. Obviously, there is also a significant road safety element involved. The efforts being made are encouraging. I hope that they will be effective. If they are not working, I ask that the Minister of State intervene to ensure that they do work?

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