Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Transport if, with regard to the current backlog of driving test applications, his Department has considered making an arrangement with the existing driver testers to clear this backlog; if the existing driver testers submitted a proposal to his Department in this regard; if so, the outcome of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29692/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In order to deal with the delays in obtaining a driving test, my Department and the Department of Finance agreed a package of measures to reduce the backlog of driving test applications. An essential part of the package includes a bonus scheme for existing driver testers. The other elements of the package are the recruitment of additional testers and the outsourcing of a block of tests.

A bonus scheme was agreed with the driver testers branch of IMPACT and offered to the driver testers last June. However, the members subsequently rejected the bonus scheme as they were opposed to the outsourcing element of the package. The driver testers branch submitted alternative proposals for a bonus scheme, which was designed to deal with the backlog without outsourcing a block of tests. However, these proposals were not acceptable to the Department as they would not deliver the required 80,000 additional driving tests in the same timeframe and at comparable cost with the package of measures as originally proposed.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Transport if, with regard to the high number of road deaths recently, the outsourced driver testers being recruited at present will have the same qualifications as those who are currently employed by his Department as driver testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29693/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The request for tenders for the contract to conduct driving tests set out the appropriate requirements that staff recruited as driver testers by the contractor must meet. These requirements are the same as have been applied by the Public Appointments Service in the competition being run by it for the recruitment of contract driver testers.