Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason for his delay in introducing changes to the driver licensing system as envisaged by the Road Traffic Act 2006. [12656/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 126 and 251 on the 21 February 2007.

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 responded to this request and I am considering the detailed proposals submitted.