David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects to clear the driving test backlog, in view of the fact that the number of provisional licence holders rose by almost 25,000 in 2005; his views on whether this backlog is compromising road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3311/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Transport if and when he intends to begin temporary outsourcing of driving tests in order to address the issue of the driving test backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3293/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Transport if all plans to outsource elements of the driver testing system have been abandoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3348/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 133 and 207 together.

As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. It not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives which I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road safety. The driving test and those who deliver it are a key element in the road safety strategy.

It is my objective to eliminate the backlog of driving tests by mid-2007 and my Department has developed a package of measures in consultation with staff interests to achieve this.

I am pleased to acknowledge that a very high number of the existing driver testers have indicated that they will participate in a bonus scheme which will make a significant contribution to the reduction of the backlog over the coming 18 months. Furthermore, in a unique cross-departmental and cross-union agreement, a further eight civil servants from the Department of Agriculture and Food have successfully passed interviews and tests and will shortly be trained as driver testers and start working in April to reduce the backlog. Later in the year they will be augmented by another ten new recruits on two-year contracts. This increased volume of testing is putting administrative staff in Ballina under considerable pressure and I want to publicly recognise the contribution they are making to resolving a difficult situation. They are often the first point of contact between the public and the Department in difficult times and they have responded admirably.

However, despite all these efforts I am convinced that more needs to be done in the short term and that the temporary use of outsourcing has to be an option to which I have recourse. Outsourcing not only provides access to additional staff resources but also to training options and infrastructure and facilities that are needed to overcome the problems we face in the coming months. I believe Sustaining Progress provides that option but there is union disagreement on this. I accept that this disagreement reflects a genuinely held difference of opinion on the meaning of clauses in Sustaining Progress. Departmental and union officials have worked hard together to reach solutions and although good progress has been made I do not think it is sufficient to overcome the overriding need to eliminate the backlog as quickly as possible and allow those same staff concentrate on developing and implementing a road safety regime and services which are part of this Government's programme. Therefore, I intend to progress the outsourcing option.

I understand that this decision is likely to be tested under the arbitration provisions of Sustaining Progress. If so, that will give both sides a binding decision. Meanwhile, I have mandated my Department to progress outsourcing. I strongly believe that this is a prudent decision which it is necessary to take in the interests of road safety and to avoid any unnecessary subsequent delays in eliminating the backlog.

I want to be unequivocally clear to the staff in the Department that I appreciate the level of service and commitment they have given and continue to give to the delivery of a driver testing service. They will continue to be the backbone of the service into the future. While I believe that outsourcing is needed now in exceptional circumstances to augment their work I can give them an assurance that it is a temporary measure and not intended to replace their work. I can also assure them that if outsourcing points to deficiencies in the infrastructure or systems which are available in the public service, I intend to continue to secure and provide the resources needed to improve the public service infrastructure. In tandem with eliminating the backlog I am determined to support a better public service delivery of the driving test to the benefit of both customers and staff. Along with eliminating the backlog I intend to deliver a service in which existing staff will be proud to work.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of additional driving testers which will be recruited in 2006; the way in which he proposes to recruit same; the provision and timescale for training such testers; and the number of tests which will be conducted in 2006. [3143/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department proposes to temporarily redeploy staff from the Department of Agriculture and Food who have been identified as being surplus to that Department's organisational requirements and who are based in various regional locations around the country. Following interviews and tests, eight successful candidates will now commence a six week training course late February and, subject to passing this course, it is envisaged that these staff will commence testing in April 2006.

My Department also proposes to recruit ten driver testers through an open recruitment competition organised by the Public Appointments Service. This process began in December 2005 with a psychometric exam. Stage two of the competition, which is an assessment of driving competence, will take place next week. The third stage, an interview, will take place in March. Successful candidates will commence their six week training course in April and it is envisaged that they will commence testing in June 2006.

It is not possible to give a definitive number on the number of tests that will be conducted during the year as there is a large number of variables involved such as the actual number of new testers who commence work and in particular the amount of training of the new recruits which must be done from within our own resources. The average number of tests conducted over the last five years was approximately 150,000 per annum.

In light of the above, coupled with a bonus scheme which has been taken up by a high number of testers and the use of outsourcing, I would expect that this figure will be substantially exceeded in 2006.