Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Transport when he proposes to bring forward legislation in relation to changes to driver licensing law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6533/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will act upon the proposals for reform of the regulations which apply to provisional and inexperienced drivers presented to him by the Road Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6624/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 251 together.

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 including the preparation of proposals for draft regulatory provisions relating to driver licensing and testing. At my request the Road Safety Authority has been examining the driver licensing system, as to what further reforms might be introduced in the interests of road safety.

In my reply to priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2 on the 2 November last I indicated that I had asked the RSA to 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. The RSA has recently responded to my Department in this request and I expect to receive a submission for my consideration from my officials shortly.