Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Transport when the learner permit driving system will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35795/06]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Transport the changes to driver licensing law he proposes; and the timeframe for their introduction. [35757/06]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Transport the proposals expected to be introduced in relation to a graduated licence; when such proposals will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 53 and 102 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to a priority question today, in which I said that the RSA has submitted to me in recent days a range of proposals with a particular focus on licensing reform and on targeting drivers between 17 and 24 years old. I equally share the concern of the RSA Board about the high risk factors of death and serious injury to this particular category of drivers and I will be considering these proposals in the coming weeks.

I also met with the Chief Executive of the RSA last week and asked that the Authority come back to me as soon as possible with a structured approach to a complete transition, with time lines, from the current regime of provisional licences to a regime of learner permits and restricted category drivers and related learner/drivers formation arrangements. I know that such a complete transition will take some time, but I genuinely feel that there is great potential for saving young lives in this approach. I intend to meet the RSA Board in the coming weeks to discuss these matters.