John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for his refusal to recruit staff for the Department of Transport which has resulted in the present huge waiting time of 52-53 weeks for a driving test; his plans to implement a bonus scheme similar to the one in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4501/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to matters within the remit of the Minister for Transport and neither he nor I share the simplistic view expressed by the Deputy that the current backlog of driving tests is mainly due to the non recruitment of Department of Transport personnel. I have been fully supportive of the measures taken by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, and outlined by him last week in answer to various parliamentary questions on the matter.