Written answers

Tuesday, 17 February 2004

10:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Transport the criteria and qualifications needed for a position as a driving tester and a driving instructor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5036/04]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Question No. 264 on Wednesday, 11 February 2004. While the Department has no immediate plans to initiate a competition for driver testers, the position is reviewed regularly having regard to current and future requirements of the driver testing service.

Recruitment to the Civil Service is carried out centrally by the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners and interested candidates can register their interest by logging on to the www.publicjobs.ie website. Once registered candidates will be notified automatically when a competition is announced. Any proposed competition will also be advertised in the Irish Independent on a Thursday or in The Irish Times on a Friday.

Details of qualifications which candidates were required to possess for the last competition conducted by the Civil Service Commission included a good general education; a satisfactory knowledge of the rules of the road, road procedures and the law relating to road traffic in so far as it concerns the driver of a mechanically-propelled vehicle; at least five years' satisfactory driving experience within the seven years ending on 25 June 1998; a general understanding of the working of mechanically-propelled vehicles; possess report writing skill with a particular reference to accuracy, clarity and conciseness; a clean driving licence other than a provisional licence valid in the State on the day of the test; possess excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, and the capacity to remain calm and courteous in dealing with applicants; and otherwise possess the requisite knowledge and ability and be suitable to enter on the discharge of the duties of the position.

A driving instructor must have appropriate insurance cover and hold a full driving licence for the category of vehicle in which he-she is giving driving instruction. Many driving instructors are enrolled with voluntary driving instruction associations or with the voluntary driving instructor register. Proposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet. I am considering what arrangements will be put in place to oversee implementation of the standard in the context of the establishment of a driver testing and standards authority.

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