Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Transport the numbers of persons awaiting tests at the latest date for which figures are available and the average waiting time in regard to each driver testing centre; the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times; the number of driver testers in each year from 1997 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15564/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Table 1 sets out the numbers waiting and the average waiting time at each driving test centre on 9 May 2005. Table 2 sets out the number of driver testers, including supervisory testers, employed by my Department between 1997 and 2005. My Department and the Department of Finance have agreed a package of measures which includes increased productivity, the recruitment of additional testers and the outsourcing of a block of tests. These measures have a potential to reduce the numbers awaiting a test by up to 80,000. Consultations with staff interests have commenced on the implementation of these measures.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister's announcement on Tuesday about reducing waiting lists for driving tests sounded well, but people should not get too excited because his predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Brennan, made a similar announcement in February 2003. Does the Minister accept that there are now longer waiting lists for the driving test and fewer testers? There is fewer than one tester for every 1,000 people on the waiting list.

The Minister announced a package on Tuesday promising to cut the waiting list to a month within the next 18 months. Where does he propose to find the driver testers? Are there qualified driver testers waiting to be employed? How does he propose to train recruits to bring them up to the standard that prevails? How does he propose to ensure that the standards are sufficiently high in the testing undertaken by private sector operators? How will he ensure even standards between public and private sector testers? Surely it would make more sense to set up the driving standards authority and recruit additional staff to that authority.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased the Department of Finance has supported the measures I proposed and I thank the Minister for Finance for that. The number of testers employed is substantially larger than it was. I do not know why the Deputy says there are fewer now. I can give her the figures if she wishes. There are 129 testers and several vacancies, which I intend to fill immediately.

We have appointed a new chief executive officer to lead the driving standards authority. Under his aegis the authority will put a block of tests out to tender in the market. He has assured me this is possible. We will incentivise our own driver testers on the number of tests carried out over a base figure of so many tests per day. Approximately 40,000 of the backlog of 80,000 tests will be carried out by our testers and the balance by outside testers. My wish is that the backlog will be cleared by the end of next year when the waiting time will be a matter of weeks.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Where will the Minister find the testers?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The new chief executive of the driving standards authority says they are available. Some training will be needed to ensure uniformity.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I should hope so. What are the Minister's proposals in that regard?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The training will ensure uniformity and consistency in the standard of driver testing across the country.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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How does the Minister propose to do that training?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The authority will train the testers. That is why we are setting up the authority. I am told by all sides, including internally, that it will achieve this. It will be done if there is a will to do it.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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They will be training themselves.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am an optimist. I believe that one can get through problems if one sticks to the facts.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister is naive.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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If one sticks to the facts the truth will always stand by one.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is wrong.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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One should never be afraid of the truth.