Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 226 of 17 May 2006 and 359 of 23 May 2006 the reason he is not in a position to provide an estimate of the maximum number of driving tests that can be processed through the driving test software system, that is, the capacity of the software and not of actual driving test numbers; the way in which he can plan for extra tests in the absence of such an estimate; and if the software is capable of dealing with 404,000 applications in the next twelve months if these were made. [21125/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in my reply to the previous questions, in the short term there is not a capacity problem on the system which would prevent the processing of additional driving tests. Having said this, the basic code on which it relies is over 10 years old. This brings with it a number of significant inflexibilities which, in my view, make it a very much less than efficient tool on which to base a modern driving test application process. However, it is now sufficiently robust to allow an 18 to 24 month window of opportunity. During this period it is intended to significantly improve the overall system, streamline the application process and provide Internet based public access.

For the information of the Deputy, I am advised that, as currently configured, the system can accommodate an average of 3,000 applications a day and with peaks of 10,000. The current levels are 770 on average and 1,500 at peak. The licensing arrangements allow for up to 80 concurrent on-line users. Additional licences can be purchased and deployed if necessary.