Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason no automatic receipt of payment is generated to an e-mail account or made available to download when a candidate applies on-line to undertake a driving test; the further reason an application, though made via the Internet, has to be manually downloaded and manually inputted into another system to generate a reference number for a candidate. [29038/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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When applicants complete their payment transaction on-line they are presented with a screen entitled "Transaction Status". This screen informs the applicant if their payment has been successfully processed. It represents confirmation of receipt of their application and payment. Applicants are advised to record both the Bank of Ireland authorisation code and the driving test transaction code.

The further development of Internet based facilities for driver testing is desirable and will be considered in the context of the overall IT requirements of the new Road Safety Authority which is currently being established.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of tenders received prior to the closing date of 5 September 2005 in relation to the contract to conduct driving tests advertised on his Department's website; the estimated timeframe for the review of the tenders received and the awarding of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29039/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Four tenders were received, of which two were valid in accordance with the requirements set out in the request for tenders document. These tenders have been evaluated and a preferred tender has been selected. However, the use of outsourcing as part of a package of measures to clear the backlog of driving test applications is being disputed by the staff associations, who have asked that the matter be referred to conciliation under the terms of Sustaining Progress. A conciliation hearing at the Labour Relations Commission is scheduled for 21 October 2005.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of applications which were received up to the closing date of 13 October 2005 in relation to the recent advertisement for contract driver testers through the Public Appointments Service; if there will be two different criteria in relation to the training of driver testers between new applicants and existing Department staff; if applicants need specific qualifications or training to apply; the proposed remuneration rate of the contract driver testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29040/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The competition in question is being managed by the Public Appointments Service and I consider that it would be inappropriate for me to give any details in relation to it at this stage. Both current and future appointees to the post of driver tester will be trained to the same basic standard.

Information on qualifications or training required for the post, and remuneration rates, is available in the information relating to the competition, which is available on the Public Appointments Service website, www.publicjobs.ie.