Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the contributors who spoke tonight and I acknowledge the Government will not oppose the motion but it is unfortunate it is not the first time this issue has been raised. I agree, obviously, when the Government says the figures are unacceptable but it must be deeply frustrating for anybody listening in or watching tonight, including any of the 72,000 people on the waiting lists, the people waiting six to eight months for a driving test, the thousands of people in my county of Kerry, the people who are paying exorbitant, over the top insurance costs and the people paying huge amounts for extra driving tests while they are waiting for the test.

It must be deeply frustrating for returning immigrants, immigrants returning from the United States, for example, where they have a full driving licence and who are awaiting a licence for work, so they can take up employment here. Their licences are not recognised here. All the times Government members have gone over there for St. Patrick's Day, can they not sort this small thing out with some sort of agreement with the United States? It must be deeply frustrating for people who cannot access employment, such as employment in crucial front-line services, such as paramedics, ambulance drivers and so on, and for people who are trying to access courses they require in order to take up employment.

It must be frustrating for people to hear some of the excuses given tonight. Covid was mentioned, I think, by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, along with things like the post-pandemic era, public health measures, social distancing and the pandemic era. It must be frustrating to hear that from the Minister when numbers have increased by 60% since 2022, when the restrictions ended.

It must also be frustrating to hear the Minister say it is not the Government's problem and the RSA has not dealt with the situation. Those opposite are in government and they are the ones who should have been sorting it out over the past number of years. It reminds me of the delays in security in Dublin Airport where staff were laid off. It became so difficult to hire full-time staff. In essence, that is what we are calling on the Government to do here.

There was frustration on our side hearing the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, asking for solutions and saying there was a problem with the solutions offered. We are asking for more full-time instructors, for more resources to be put in and for the Government to take this matter seriously once and for all.

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