Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any grant assistance is available for persons to undertake the rigid driving lessons. [39908/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In April of this year I signed regulations under which learner drivers are now required to undergo Essential Driver Training (EDT) before they can sit the driving test. EDT is one of a number of measures being introduced as part of a Graduated Driver Licensing system for Ireland. I appreciate that this entails additional costs for learners. However, EDT is a major step forward in terms of road safety and offers great benefits both for learners and for all road users. It will ensure that learner drivers develop a baseline of knowledge and skills which would not have been the case before. This will improve the quality of driving in general on our roads over time, benefitting the learners themselves and as well as other road users. My Department has no funding available to provide assistance with the cost of EDT lessons.