Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

Like me, the Minister of State represents a rural constituency. As a result, he understands what a massive problem it is if a person is obliged to wait seven months - that is the current waiting time in County Donegal - for his or her driving test. In my home area of Buncrana on the Inishowen Peninsula, the waiting time has doubled in a year. We are getting representations from young people who are desperate and their parents about the jobs or opportunities they will not be able to take up. This has a major impact in rural counties. The Minister of State knows that public transport just does not work across rural counties like Donegal. People do need to have cars to get to their places of education and work in order to provide for their families. It is just unacceptable.

My colleagues brought forward the motion in February, and there were solutions. That motion was agreed by Government, but nothing has happened of real substance. It is absolutely clear, and I am sorry to say this, that the RSA appears not to be fit for purpose when it comes to driving tests and management of the system. There has been a failure to recruit the necessary personnel and put the necessary resources in place. I find it astonishing that we would say to somebody that he or she will have to wait seven months - it is longer in other places - for this essential test.

We appeal to the Minister of State to engage in some straight talking, to intervene and to have a plan, not just to agree. The Government made time available for these statements, but we need action now. What is happening is absolutely outrageous. The Minister of State knows better than anybody who represents a rural constituency what having a licence means to people.

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