Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1990 > Committee of Public Accounts > Final Report - Appropriation Accounts 1988

APPENDIX 13

DRIVING TESTS AND PROVISIONAL LICENCES

1. There are 4,857 people awaiting tests in Cork. The waiting period is eight months.

2. There are 1,121 people awaiting tests in Mallow. The waiting period for a test is eight months. Testing has been suspended temporarily in Mallow because the premises is unsuitable. Alternative premises are being arranged and it is hoped to resume testing in Mallow within the next few weeks.

3. A copy of a press statement dated 17 September is enclosed for information, detailing arrangements made to clear up the backlog of driving tests.

4. There were 256,827 provisional licences current on 30th September 1989. At that time, the cost of the provisional licence was £8.00. In November 1989, the period of the provisional licence was extended from one to two years and the fee was increased to £12.

14 September 1990.

FLYNN ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO CLEAR DRIVING TEST BACKLOG

Mr. Pádraig Flynn, T.D., Minister for the Environment, announced today (17 September) that he has made arrangements to clear up the backlog of driving tests.

* The total number of driver testers is being increased from 44 to 83 by

—employing 19 extra permanent testers and

—20 temporary testers on a contract basis

* 15 of the extra permanent testers will commence testing today (17 September).

* Almost all of the 39 extra testers should be operational by the end of October.

* The testing staff will concentate on clearing up the backlog of tests and testing should be fully up-to-date by September 1991.

* A sufficient complement of testers will be maintained in future to ensure that testing is kept up to date on a continuing basis.

Further information from Pat Macken, Press and Information Unit.