Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

That is in the past and going forward, they will be full-time jobs. I welcome that.

I was not aware that these staff can be moved. One could be living in Dublin and be required to go to a centre that is a long commute away. I imagine that lack of certainty makes it difficult to recruit when people are required to travel considerable distances.

I acknowledge the current staff, who have been put in a difficult position in recent years. I can imagine that the stress for someone who is the only tester in a particular county is difficult. The RSA needs to look at pay and conditions to ensure that it is offering a job people wish to apply for and that it includes job security.

As I mentioned during the previous debate, we need the same kind of provision under the service-level agreement as we have with the NCT to the effect that if the RSA does not provide the test within a certain period, it is free. If there were a financial sanction on the RSA to the effect that if it did not provide the test within the ten-week period, the test was free, it would move the RSA along considerably in terms of providing this fundamental function.

I am worried that coming up to the new college term, many young people who have been unable to get their tests will be driving unaccompanied because they cannot get housing or accommodation where they are going to college. It is important that the RSA expedite this to ensure that people who need a car for college or a job can get their tests. We do not want any more learner drivers who should not be driving unaccompanied doing so, as we have seen to date.

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