Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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910. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons awaiting a driver test which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 emergency; the number of these persons based in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8785/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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911. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to meet with representative groups to find a solution to the backlog of driver tests. [8786/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Dates for the resumption of Road Safety Authority (RSA) services, and any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of these services, will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.

The RSA, in planning to reopen driver testing services, will consider all factors, including the backlog of people waiting for tests. Any representative groups who believe they have a solution to address the growing backlog of people awaiting driving tests while still maintaining social distancing and other restrictions in place at that time, should contact the RSA.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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912. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposals his Department has developed to address the cancellation of driving lessons and driver tests for thousands of persons nationally in view of the many workers impacted that require a licence to travel to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8787/20]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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917. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when persons with learner permits will be permitted to sit their driver tests. [8824/20]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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918. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider lifting restrictions to allow persons with learner permits drive unaccompanied, many of whom rely on their car to travel to work, in view of the fact that it is not possible for a learner driver to sit their driver test at present. [8825/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 912, 917 and 918 together.

Due to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, I took measures to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit.  Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months. If it is the case that the NDLS centres have not re-opened before the extension period expires, the possibility of a further extension will be examined.

It must be understood that a learner permit is not a licence, but a permit to allow a person to drive while learning. The purpose of the driving test is to set out the minimum level of knowledge, skill and competency that a learner must demonstrate in order to become a fully licenced driver. Until a learner can meet this standard and pass this test, they are not safe to take to our roads without appropriate supervision. 

I would also like to point out that the current pass rate for driving tests nationally stands at 52% for 2019, so having fulfilled all of the driving lesson requirements does not mean that an individual meets the standard required to pass the test. 

Studies have repeatedly shown that unaccompanied learner drivers are markedly more likely to be involved in fatal collisions.  For that reason, there can be no exceptions to the current laws in force around learner drivers.  Regrettably, there has been an increase in fatalities on our roads so far in 2020, and we must not relax the standards required of our drivers before being awarded a driving licence, even in the case of frontline workers.

An unaccompanied learner driver who is stopped by an Garda Siochana may face penalty points, a fixed charge, seizure of the vehicle and possible prosecution.

The RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.

The resumption of driver testing raises particular problems in terms of compliance with the Protocol and in particular social distancing rules, as it requires the driver tester and the candidate to be within a two metre distance continuously for a period in excess of 20 minutes, in a very confined space which is not in itself a workplace under the control of the RSA.

I appreciate that the inability to carry out driving tests is among the many difficulties that we all are having to endure at this time, for those awaiting such tests.  On a very preliminary appraisal of the Protocol, car driving tests may have to be the last of the statutory functions, for which the RSA is responsible, to recommence in or after Phase 5 of the Government's roadmap.

Dates for the resumption of the RSA's services, and any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of these services, will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.

The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, whether from infection or from deaths and injuries on the road, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.

As a private company, a driving school must ensure that they can comply with the necessary public health requirements before they can reopen their businesses. The National Return to Work Safely Protocol was developed by NPHET in consultation with national experts.

However, I expect a driving school to encounter the same difficulties as the RSA in terms of complying with the requirements of this Protocol.

I understand that any company which reopens is subject to inspection by Health and Safety Authority, and may face serious sanctions, including closure, if found to be not in compliance with Covid-19 requirements.