Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if provision will be made to reduce the six-month waiting rule for provisional driver licence holders to sit a test for a full licence on an emergency basis for those working in essential activities such as the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39792/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The procedures and protocols around learning to drive were put in place to make our roads as safe as possible. This includes the requirement that learners have at least 6 months' driving practice before they undergo the test. I have no plan to change this rule.

I would point out that the pass rate for driving tests in Ireland stood at 52% in 2019. Allowing candidates to avail of a driving test with less than 6 months' driving experience will inevitably result in a further fall in the pass rate, candidates being obliged to re-sit tests at considerable additional effort and expense, and lead to a further backlog in a system which is making every effort to cope with the difficulties of operating under the various Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place since March 2020.