Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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There is no doubt that driving is an expensive activity for all drivers.  Even leaving aside the costs referred to by the Deputy to get a young driver up and going, the ongoing costs of running a vehicle are high. 

Insurance companies are private companies that enter into private contracts with their customers.  EU rules specifically prohibit Member States from interfering in the terms and conditions, or pricing of those policies.  Insurance companies price their policies based on risk, using more than 50 different criteria to assess the level of risk posed by a driver.  Statistically young drivers are far more likely to be involved in collisions, and the amount they pay for their insurance reflects this.  In addition, cars have become increasingly safer over the years, with additions such as airbags, metal grids, ABS and other safety features, so insurance companies load older cars with higher premia as they are more likely to be severely damaged in a collision, with potentially more serious consequences for the occupants than a newer vehicle.

It must be understood that a learner permit is not a licence, but permission to drive on our roads 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 licensed driver. Until a learner can meet this standard and pass this test, they are not safe to take to our roads without appropriate supervision. 

It is important to note that the current pass rate for driving tests nationally stands at 52%, 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. They cannot drive unaccompanied.  We must not relax the standards required of our drivers before being awarded a driving licence.  Not only is there the risk to both driver and other road users of unqualified drivers causing deaths or injuries, there is also the pressure such incidents would put on the emergency and health services at a time of national emergency.

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.