Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This matter is exercising the minds of many people, particularly young people. I accept that because of a Cabinet meeting this morning, the Minister of State is filling in for various Ministers. I appreciate that this is not his area of responsibility but I am sure he will convey the message to the Minister for Transport.

The issue of the driving theory test has been in the public arena for some time. My frustration at this stage stems from the number of young people who have approached me about their test having been cancelled up to five times, which is causing deep frustration. Many of those young people are relying on passing the test and have been for some time. They may rely on it for summer work in the agricultural sector to drive farm machinery or in order that they can move on to the driver test and get their summer work. Quite a number of students and young people have summer jobs, and if nobody in their family is available to take them to work, they are missing out. Some of them have even had to give up their summer jobs.

I am not trying in any way to dilute the importance of road safety and of the theory test, but we have to look seriously at the possibility of some type of amnesty. I do not know whether the Minister of State is aware of the current backlog but it is significant. I am not an expert but I will propose a way in which the issue could be resolved. Given that candidates must complete driving lessons before taking the driver test, many of the theory test questions could be taken into account during that process with a driving instructor. Many of the theory test questions relate to road signage, yielding at junctions or stopping on motorways. They are pertinent questions that I am sure arise frequently when people take driving lessons with instructors. Many of the instructors I know are thorough and careful about going through the process with the person taking the lesson.

Will the Minister of State bring this suggestion to the Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues?I am afraid that if we do not something now this matter will go on and on.

Again, I am very anxious to point out that I do not seek to dilute road safety issues. I know the importance of testing, lessons and to go through the process. It is important that we all know the different road signs so that we know what to do at junctions. I do not say that we should get rid of that. I ask that in the short term we add this to the period of the 12 lessons that a person must undertake before doing a driving test. I acknowledge that all the Minister of State can do today is take my message back. I do not want this issue going on for many months so I hope that he can bring my message back to the Ministers and the Cabinet, and that we see some sense.