Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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187.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the pass rates for driver testing in each test centre in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31394/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Testing Service. As such, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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188.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if retraining of existing driver testers took place in order to clear the backlog of tests which had built up during the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of existing testers that received training; if an external company or internal trainers carried out the training; if criteria or the stringency of testing have changed during or following retraining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31395/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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189.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on introducing a requirement that drivers who have been disqualified from driving for a period retake their driving test again prior to returning to the road after that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31396/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. There is a requirement that drivers who have been disqualified from driving for 10 years or more must restart as a learner driver to obtain a driving licence.

While there are no proposals to amend this currently, the Deputy may be interested to note that reviewing the driver testing curriculum has been established as a Ministerial priority for the RSA in 2024. The review will seek to ensure that the service is fit for purpose, future proofed and can cope with changes in vehicle technology. International best practice and research will be considered in order to produce recommendations on improving driver education in Ireland. Among other things, this review will consider the appropriate testing regime for drivers who have been disqualified.

Along with all the above, I am currently examining alternative and complementary strategies in this area. Amongst items under consideration are a graduated approach to penalty points with more severe points being attracted by significant infringements, along with the possibility of compulsory re-education, driver awareness, courses for repeat offenders.