Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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202. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will confirm the qualifications which will replace the QQI certificate for driving instructors; the body that will have responsibility for same; the comparable educational value that this new certification will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61450/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that previously driving instructors received a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 6 Certification on passing the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) tests conducted by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) which are necessary to become a driving instructor. The NFQ system is operated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) which is the State Agency with the role of external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland.

At present, upon application to the ADI process, the applicant is tasked with completing three stages before they can register as an ADI. Stage One covers the ADI Theory Test. Upon passing the theory test, the applicant can progress to Stage Two, the ADI Driving Test. Stage Three assesses the applicant’s instruction ability. The applicant is sent a registration application once they successfully pass all three stages.

I am informed that QQI has discontinued its certification of people passing the driving instructor tests provided by the RSA, as the RSA is not in fact an educational or training body. Consideration was given to whether, instead of this, the application process to become an approved driving instructor should be changed to require applicants to obtain a QQI level 6 qualification before applying to the RSA to become an ADI.

However, my department’s concern in this matter is that proper standards are required to become an ADI.  The tests required to become an ADI have not changed and the standards remain the same. Requiring an additional qualification from applicants would not materially change this situation and may place an unfair financial burden on applicants.

Not seeking an additional qualification from applicants for ADI status will ensure the retention of the current application and comprehensive training process and will not delay any further recruitment of ADIs. The maintained standard protects against any detriment to the quality of learning for both the ADIs and the students of newly registered ADIs, i.e., Learner Permit holders.