Dáil debates

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

8:00 pm

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this serious matter concerning my constituents in south Tipperary. Why has the waiting period for driving tests grown longer since 2005 and what does the Minister propose to do to alleviate the unacceptably long waiting periods for driving tests in Tipperary town and Clonmel?

In Tipperary town the pass rate for driving tests is 48.9% and in Clonmel the pass rate is 51.5%. This means that in both towns approximately half of all applicants fail and must then wait for another 12 months before they can repeat the test. This is unacceptable, particularly to many of the young people who live in the area and who travel to Cork or Limerick on a daily basis. Many of them approached me to explain their case for having a driving test moved forward. Their livelihoods and jobs are dependent on having a driving licence.

It returns to the ongoing problem we have had for a long time. In 2004, 370 people died on Irish roads. This figure rose to 399 in 2005. Already in 2006, 29 people are dead. Last weekend alone nine people lost their lives. Addressing the carnage on our roads requires a multifaceted approach. Improving our driving testing services is an important component of any solution. This afternoon the Taoiseach described the high number of road deaths as disappointing. What is needed now is action. I hope the Minister will deal with this important issue for my constituents, which has been ongoing for a long number of years. I hope the Minister of State will be positive in her response.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Transport acknowledges the Deputy's concerns about the waiting lists in the Tipperary town and Clonmel test centres. On 23 January the longest waiting time in Clonmel was 51 weeks compared to 50 last December and in Tipperary town it was 58 weeks compared to 55 last December. While the Minister fully accepts that waiting times for driving tests in general are unacceptable, the increase in these centres in January was due to some of the testers based in these regions being on annual leave over Christmas and the new year. The Minister anticipates that the waiting times in these centres will improve in the short term.

Regarding waiting times in general at present 127,000 candidates await a driving test. Since 1998 the driver testing corps has been increased from 66 to 113 to deal with the additional workload. In addition, retired testers have been engaged and testers continue to work overtime. The Minister for Transport, in consultation with the Minister for Finance, has developed a package of measures to deal with the backlog of driving tests. It is the intention of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, to reduce the driver testing backlog by 80,000 by June 2007. To this end a package of measures was proposed which included a bonus scheme for driver testers, recruitment of an additional ten testers and the outsourcing of a batch of 40,000 tests.

The testing and recruitment process of the proposed ten contract testers is under way in the Public Appointments Service and 89 driver testers have signed up for the bonus scheme which is due to commence on 6 February. This is expected to deliver approximately 30,000 tests based on the commitment given. The tendering process for the outsourcing of tests has been completed and a preferred tender has been selected. No contract has yet been awarded as the matter has been the subject of conciliation at the Labour Relations Commission as unions consider the proposed outsourcing to be in breach of Sustaining Progress.

Agreement was reached at the LRC under which it was agreed that the Department of Transport would seek expressions of interest from surplus staff within the Department of Agriculture and Food for temporary redeployment as driver testers. A minimum number of 25 additional staff was required. The Department of Transport has processed the applications received and this week will interview the shortlist of ten, following which the successful candidates will be trained as driver testers. The agreement also provided that in the event of the proposal proving to be undeliverable at any stage the Department would take measures to address the backlog. My understanding is that the Department continues to pursue all options to ensure that the backlog is reduced as quickly as possible. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.