Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has fulfilled the criteria he set out before the introduction of the order enforcing provisional drivers being accompanied; if a date has been set for the order to be introduced; when the enforcement initiative by the Garda will commence; and the details of its plan. [24342/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The regulations introducing changes to driver licensing including the removal of the concession whereby a holder of a second provisional licence may drive unaccompanied were made in October 2007. I confirm that, with effect from 30 June 2008, all holders of provisional licences or learner permits must be accompanied by a person who holds a full driving licence for at least two years.

Following on the changes to the driver licensing laws for learner drivers in October 2007, both I and the Road Safety Authority confirmed that all 122,000 applicants on the waiting list at the end of October 2007 would be tested by March 2008 and that by the end of June 2008 all applicants for a driving test would be able to get a test on demand, that is within a 10 week period. The commitment for March 2008 was met and the Road Safety Authority is confident that the second commitment will also be met. Enforcement of driver licensing regulations is a matter for the Garda Síochána.