David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations and guidelines in place and required qualifications in order to qualify as a driver tester; the amount of training supervision given to driver testers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19651/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Historically there has been no statutory regime of professional qualification or certification for driver testers in Ireland. The Road Safety Authority (RSA), as the agency responsible for driver testing, has therefore set its own criteria for assessing the driver testers it hires. However, last year, in line with EU requirements, I signed Regulations which will for the first time provide a statutory regime setting standards which must be met by driver testers.

The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 transpose into Irish law certain requirements under Directive 2006/126/EC. These include the creation, from January 2013, of a statutory regime under which the RSA will have responsibility for ensuring that all driver testers will have to satisfy standards of professional expertise in a range of areas. Driver testers will have to demonstrate personal driving skills and knowledge, as well as communications and teaching skills. In addition, there will be procedures to monitor professional standards and ensure periodic training for those already qualified as driver testers. This represents a significant change, and puts the professional qualifications and standards of driver testers on a statutory basis for the first time.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons who have completed the driving test in 2011 and to date in 2012 each month respectively; the number in each of these months that have passed their respective tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19654/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Driver testing is a function of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to that agency for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.