Written answers
Tuesday, 19 April 2005
Department of Transport
Driving Tests
9:00 pm
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts which have been made to reduce the lengthy delays experienced by persons awaiting their driving test; the present waiting time for each test centre from the date of application to the date of testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11944/05]
Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's discussions with the Department of Finance about a package of measures to reduce waiting times at all test centres are at an advanced stage. The measures include the recruitment of additional driver testers as well as increased productivity. I expect that my Department will be in a position to proceed with those measures at an early date.
The average waiting time for driving tests at each test centre, for the latest date available, is set out in the following table.
| Average waiting times for driving tests at 11 April 2005. | |
| Centre | Average Weeks Waiting |
| North Leinster Region | |
| Finglas | 24 |
| Dundalk | 30 |
| Mullingar | 22 |
| Navan | 20 |
| Raheny | 27 |
| South Leinster Region | |
| Churchtown-Rathgar | 38 |
| Gorey | 25 |
| Naas | 39 |
| Tullamore | 31 |
| Wicklow | 32 |
| Tallaght | 26 |
| West Region | |
| Athlone | 28 |
| Birr | 20 |
| Castlebar | 20 |
| Clifden | 17 |
| Ennis | 18 |
| Galway | 25 |
| Loughrea | 15 |
| Roscommon | 18 |
| Tuam | 20 |
| North-west Region | |
| Ballina | 21 |
| Buncrana | 31 |
| Carrick-on-Shannon | 25 |
| Cavan | 27 |
| Donegal | 17 |
| Letterkenny | 27 |
| Longford | 21 |
| Monaghan | 31 |
| Sligo | 16 |
| South-east Region | |
| Carlow | 39 |
| Clonmel | 43 |
| Dungarvan | 42 |
| Kilkenny | 31 |
| Nenagh | 38 |
| Portlaoise | 36 |
| Thurles | 44 |
| Tipperary | 46 |
| Waterford | 29 |
| Wexford | 29 |
| South-west Region | |
| Cork | 26 |
| Killarney | 39 |
| Kilrush | 23 |
| Limerick | 27 |
| Mallow | 27 |
| Newcastle West | 25 |
| Shannon | 32 |
| Skibbereen | 36 |
| Tralee | 22 |
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of persons who had been driving on a provisional licence on 31 December 2004 for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11945/05]
Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is set out in the following table.
| Year | Number of provisional licences at 31 December |
| 2000 | 345,000* |
| 2001 | 325,000* |
| 2002 | 352,524 |
| 2003 | 367,807 |
| 2004 | 380,347 |
| *Figures for 2000 and 2001 are estimates based on returns from licensing authorities, as the national driver file became operational only in 2002. |
The Government's strategy for road safety from 2004 to 2006 states that driver licensing regulations will be amended to discourage long-term reliance on provisional licences.
Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce legislation whereby learner drivers will have to use an enclosed designated driving school rather than the present system whereby they use public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12049/05]
Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have no proposals to prevent the use of public roads by learner drivers and to require the use of enclosed designated driving schools. The Government's strategy for road safety for 2004 to 2006 states that it is the intention over the course of the strategy to introduce compulsory initial practical training for motorcyclists before they are permitted to drive alone on a public road. That may involve off-road tuition.
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