Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is very welcome to the House. This is the first opportunity I have had to debate him in his new role. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him every success with it.

The subject I am going to discuss, driving test waiting times, is nothing new to the Minister of State. The average waiting time for counties Monaghan and Cavan is approximately 28 weeks, with the national average having stood at approximately 18.4 weeks. Granted, the figures are significantly lower than the crazy high at the end of April, 27 weeks. I acknowledge progress is being made by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, but the waiting period is still too long. I believe 16.3 weeks is now the national average. While I compliment everybody involved on the progress, including the Minister of State, the waiting period is still too long. The Minister of State does not need me to tell him that a person from rural Ireland faces public transport challenges that those from other parts of the country do not have to endure, and that the car is the only show in town for somebody in a rural area who wishes to get from A to B. The delay is very frustrating for those waiting on driving tests, some of whom might have jobs that hang on a successful test. There is a very frustrating experience all around.

I welcome the fact that the RSA has issued a ten-week waiting-time target. This is to be achieved by September, which is only six weeks away. I welcome the Minister of State’s ambition but just wonder how realistic the target is. I would be delighted to hear his comments on it. I understand that about 100,000 people are waiting for a driving test. I wonder how practical the target of the RSA, while welcome, is. There is a need for more staff and for staff to work additional hours at weekends. In fairness to the Minister of State, I have heard him saying all these things. We also need more driving test centres.

We have a problem with the system in that there are crazy delays. We need to address this immediately. We need a system that works properly for people and that will, I hope, make the frustration that many are enduring a thing of the past. I acknowledge and welcome that the Minister of State has grabbed this matter by the scruff of the neck since entering his Department. Perhaps he could update us on the latest waiting times for counties Monaghan and Cavan, and indeed elsewhere. What is the position on staff recruitment and new driving test centres? What is the plan to ensure a properly functioning system once we get over the current hump?