Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce and ultimately eliminate waiting lists here for driving test applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20613/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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. A total of 91 of the existing driver testers are participating in a bonus scheme, which is expected to deliver up to 40,000 additional driving tests in a year. Furthermore 7 Civil Servants, redeployed from the Department of Agriculture and Food, commenced working as driver testers in April. In June, a further 6 testers are due to commence training, and will be joined by a further 5 later in the summer.

However, despite all these efforts I am convinced that more needs to be done in the short term. The question of outsourcing was referred to arbitration, which ultimately upheld the unions' view of the clauses of Sustaining Progress that outsourcing was not permitted under Sustaining Progress. Nevertheless, as the Arbitration Board urged all parties to examine all options to deal with the backlog in the interests of road safety. Discussions have continued to take place since the arbitration hearing with a view to reaching agreement on measures to reduce the backlog by mid 2007. Negotiations are ongoing under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission in this context.