Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views in relation to learner drivers that have been unable to finish their EDT lessons and driver examination due to Covid-19 level 5 restrictions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that learner drivers that are essential workers are unable to drive unaccompanied to work and the practical problems this may cause due to Covid-19; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34241/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I fully appreciate the difficulty that many learner drivers have experienced and are continuing to experience in their efforts to obtain a full driving licence.

Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) have been deemed to be essential under the current Level 5 Covid restrictions. However, I would point out to the Deputy that ADIs are private individuals or companies, who are free to choose whether they will continue to offer their services in the current climate.

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.

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 no decrease in fatalities on our roads so far in 2020, despite huge reductions in traffic volumes.

As you are aware, driving tests were temporarily suspended earlier this year due to the Covid 19 emergency and since resuming operations, there has been an increased level of demand. Unfortunately, due to social distancing requirements, normal capacity is considerably reduced and this means that some customers will experience longer waiting times for a test than was the case before the service was suspended.

Currently, only those who are frontline healthcare workers and other essential workers are deemed eligible for an urgent test slot, in an effort to accommodate as many as possible.

Public safety is paramount, and never more so than in the case of our frontline workers, whether through infection or through death or injury on our roads. For this reason we must not relax the standards required of our drivers before being awarded a driving licence.