Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Transport the communication his Department has had with a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding driving tests; and the reason he has not responded to this person's communications. [21755/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned has undergone five driving tests as follows — 2 March 2004, 5 October 2004, 9 December 2004, 13 December 2005 and 29 March 2006.

He applied for a further driving test on 12 May, 2006 enclosing a letter from a potential employer. His application was placed on a cancellation list and he will be called once a cancellation date becomes available.

There has been considerable correspondence with the applicant. The last written correspondence was on 20 April, 2006 and a written reply issued to him on 24 April, 2006. In addition to written correspondence, the Department has a record of 29 telephone conversations with him since October 2004. The indications are that there were numerous other calls that were not recorded. The individual concerned has also been in contact with my Private Office.

The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 provide that an applicant for a driving licence must produce a Certificate of Competency when applying for the licence. In order to obtain the Certificate of Competency it is necessary for an individual to sit and pass a driving test. As this is a statutory requirement, no exception can be made under any circumstances.

At a time when staff are under considerable pressure given the existing backlog, a very significant amount of official time has been taken up in responding to the needs of this applicant. I am assured that he has always been, and continues to be, dealt with in a courteous and professional manner.