Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 7, before section 5, to insert the following new section:

"5.—(1) The Authority shall have responsibility for the management and standards of driver testing in Ireland.

(2) The Authority shall put such structures in place as it deems necessary to ensure that the standard of driving in Ireland is maintained and improved.

(3) The Authority may put such pre-conditions in place as it deems necessary, for candidates who wish to take the driving test. Such pre-conditions may include, but are not limited to, a requirement that candidates undergo a prescribed number of driving lessons before being allowed to sit the driving test.

(4) In carrying out its functions under subsection (2), the Authority shall review and update the driving test and driver theory test so that—

(a) each examination conforms to international best practice,

(b) the driver testing process reflects safe driving practices,

(c) each examination has regard to persons who

(i) are hearing impaired,

(ii) do not speak Irish or English as defined by the Official Languages Act 2003,

(iii) have literacy difficulties, or, in the case of the driver theory test, difficulty operating a computer, or

(iv) have a physical disability, and

(d) a detailed report of the results of test, including all of the following:

(i) whether the candidate passed or failed the test;

(ii) where he or she made errors;

(iii) what areas the candidate could improve;

(iv) in the case of a candidate who has passed, what further actions he or she must take to obtain a licence; and

(v) in the case of a candidate who has failed, how he or she can reapply for the test,

is made available to each candidate.

(5) On a regular basis, the Authority shall produce and update, a drivers' training manual, which shall contain-

(a) the Rules of the Road,

(b) advice on safe driving, and

(c) such other information as the Authority deems necessary,

and such drivers' training manual shall be subject to the provisions of section 10 of the Official Languages Act 2003."

There may be hope that the Minister of State might accept some of the ideas in amendments Nos. 6 or 7.

Much work must be done in the area of driver testing, the education of driving testers and the process of applying for the driving test. If a person sits and fails a driving test, for example, it should be the duty of the tester to point out to the individual the points on which the person failed and what was done incorrectly. I do not believe this is the case currently. It should be obligatory for the tester to point out the mistakes to the person who has gone through the motions of taking lessons, etc.

There should also be controls in place relating to education of testers. Currently, a person giving lessons can set up a business in the morning without even a car. I am not even sure if a driving licence is required, although I presume one would need it. It is a very loose arrangement, and the area should be considered. There should also be a provision for the Irish language.

This amendment covers the issue of physical disability and driver testers, among other things. We must do much work in this regard. The amendments speak for themselves. The Rules of the Road cannot be obtained in the Irish language. It should be printed in Irish and available for the people in the Gaeltacht or anybody who wants it in the Irish language.

There should be a register of driving testers. The amendment I have tabled covers that area, as well as the area of driving instructors. I would like to hear the Minister of State's views on some of those issues. There could be vast improvement in these areas, which would greatly improve the education of some of our drivers also.