Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

Will the Leader organise an urgent debate with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, on the recent and welcome comments by the Taoiseach on traffic congestion on the M50? This upgrading will not solve Dublin's traffic problems. We need to consider a location for an outer ring road. I have been considering that for years, but local councils around Dublin have not been doing so. I am sure they have not even made telephone contact with each other on this issue. The announcement that an outer ring road will be built is welcome. A discussion should be held with the Minister for Transport to see if his Department will take the matter on board. It should not be an issue to be discussed for years, as happened with the Dublin metro proposal, without any decision being made. An outer ring road is necessary to address the traffic problems on the west side of Dublin.

Over the weekend, announcements were made regarding changes to the driving test. An applicant may now be asked to look under the bonnet of a car. Such changes will not help to change and improve driver behaviour and end fatalities on our roads. We need a root and branch restructuring of the driving test and a debate on the long wait for the test would be timely. Who tests the testers? Some driving instructors now refer to themselves as driving tipsters — young people who approach them now only want a few tips on passing the test and do not undergo a proper instruction course. Efforts have been made to address the road safety issue in terms of penalty points but we must also consider the thousands of young drivers on our roads who are not properly qualified to be there.