Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the RSA stakeholders forum members who have exceeded their tenure will be asked to step down to allow for new members to be elected to the forum. [24974/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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This is an operational 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.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the required qualifications for driving test staff for each level of driver license testing. [24975/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The standards and qualifications to be met by driver testers are set out in schedule 8 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006). The schedule was most recently amended by S.I. No. 489 of 2020. As well as being approved by the Oireachtas and being available in the Oireachtas Library to all members of both Houses, legislation is in the public domain, and may be consulted at www.irishstatutebook.ie.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to renew out of date permits for driving instructors. [24976/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Due to level 5 restrictions and the need to adhere to Government public health protocols, it has not been possible in recent months for the Road Safety Authority to carry out all of the check tests that are legally required to renew driver instructor licences in a timely manner.

In response to these delays and in anticipation of the resumption of Initial Basic Training (IBT) and the partial resumption of Essential Driver Training (EDT) on the 10th of May, my Department has now moved to extend these licences. Under regulations signed into law last week, any driver instructor licence issued between the 1st of September 2018 and the 3rd of January 2021 will now be valid for 3 years rather than 2. The expiry date of these licences will thus be an additional 1 year from the date originally specified on the licence.

I understand that the Road Safety Authority has contacted Approved Driving Instructors across the country to inform them of this extension.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to follow-up on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks recommendation to open regular communication and consultation between the RSA and the union representatives for approved driving instructors. [24977/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct response. I would ask that she contact my offices if no reply is received within ten working days.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the 40 newly-recruited driving testers will be fully trained and qualified to commence driving licence testing; the level of training being given; the body providing the training; and the qualifications of the personnel that are carrying out this training for the new staff. [24978/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The information requested is held by the Authority and this question is being referred to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.