Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce a statutory requirement for novice drivers to continue supervised practice and training after they have passed the practical driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30059/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Transport when he intends to revise the regulation of driver licensing to ensure that provisional drivers are no longer allowed to drive unaccompanied; if he has a target national average weekly wait for the driving test at which point this reform will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30050/06]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Transport when he intends to revise the regulation of driver licensing to ensure that drivers may not continually renew their provisional license without taking a driving test. [30049/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 29 together.

I have indicated on previous occasions that I am not happy with the current driving licence system and that I am anxious to bring in reforms to the system.

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the oversight of the operation of the driver licensing system. In addition under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 it is open to the Road Safety Authority to make recommendations in relation to the promotion of better driving standards and to draw up road safety programmes.

The Road Safety Authority will be examining the driver licensing system and will make recommendations as to what further reforms might be introduced in the interests of road safety. The requirements concerning accompaniment and supervision of learner drivers would of course be a matter to be considered by the RSA in such deliberations as would be the desirability of requiring novice drivers undergo further training or supervision.

Deputies will be aware of the significant measures that have been taken to help reduce the waiting times for driving tests. I have not set a precise target waiting time at which any reforms of the licensing system will be introduced. Rather, I will keep the matter under review having regard to the impact that the introduction of measures will have on the waiting times, and the desirability of introducing reforms in the interests of road safety. In this regard, I might mention that reforms may be introduced on a phased basis rather than all at once.

I should point out that at present provisional licence holders are generally required to be accompanied by and under the supervision of a person qualified to drive the category of vehicle being driven. The only exception to this is where the driver holds a second provisional licence in respect of a car or is the holder of a provisional licence to drive motorcycles or tractors/work vehicles.

As regards renewal of provisional licences, it is a regulatory condition for eligibility for renewal of a provisional licence that the person has generally within the proceeding period of two years undergone the driving test. This condition does not apply where the applicant satisfies the licensing authority that because of illness, as certified by a registered medical practitioner, the person was not in a position to submit to a driving test. Otherwise, the person must produce evidence to the licensing authority that a driving test has been arranged for that person. The conditions concerning renewal will be considered as part of the review of the licensing system.