Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the drivers forum who inform the National Road Safety Authority regarding the standards required for driving instructors is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33241/11]

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the functions of the drivers forum which informs the National Road Safety Authority in relation to driving instructors and driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33240/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 28 together.

The question relates to the drivers' forum that informs the Road Safety Authority regarding driving instructors and driving tests. Responsibility for regulation and oversight of driving instruction rests with the Road Safety Authority, RSA. In accordance with the Road Traffic (Driving Instructors Licensing) (No. 2) Regulations 2009, driving instructors are required to be approved by the authority before they can offer services to the public. In addition, the authority as part of its regulatory function maintains a register of approved driving instructors, ADIs.

I understand that for the purposes of interaction and consultation with approved driving instructors, the authority established a stakeholders' forum. It is important to note the RSA does not have an employer-employee relationship with ADIs, who generally are self-employed or employed by another entity.