James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Senator's very real concerns around this matter. I know that he would not in any way suggest that road safety should be compromised and that it is certainly not the angle he is coming from on this matter. He has a genuine concern about the backlog, which many of us have, in terms of people trying to get access to theory tests. The backlog is having a very real impact on all sorts of people's lives, especially young people who want to get out whether it is for college or work purposes.

I assure the Senator that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, takes this matter very seriously and it is a matter that exercises the Government. Every step that can be taken will be taken to ensure that the backlog is cleared as quickly as possible and that the people who need driver theory tests get them so they can get their driver's permit, and get on the road as quickly as possible but in as safe a manner as possible both for themselves and for all road users.