asked the Minister for Local Government if he has laid down qualifications for learner driver instructors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Driving Instructors.
8.
No.
Does the Minister consider it desirable that a person can set up as a driving instructor immediately after passing his test without any further training of any description?
It is not desirable and I am not aware that it is happening. There is a relatively small number of driving schools and driving instructors but, if Deputy Faulkner brings something specifically to my notice, I will have a look at it. A great many people do driving tests without going near a driving school or an instructor. The number here is relatively small as compared with other countries—70 per cent in Britain and 20 per cent here, for example. It is not a problem, but if Deputy Faulkner has a case and brings it to my notice I will investigate. Deputy Haughey raised this matter with me some months ago and, as a result of my investigations, it did not seem to be a desirable thing at this point in time to start laying down qualifications. In fact, laying down qualifications, as the Deputy will agree, would be a difficult thing to do.
Surely the Minister will agree there is some responsibility on the Department in a matter like this. If we are to have driving tests then the Minister must agree there must be some responsibility on the Department to ensure that those who act as driving instructors are properly qualified.
The onus is on the Department to ensure that the people who are tested as drivers know how to drive. If someone is foolish enough to go and pay the very substantial sum required to someone who sets himself up as an instructor and he knows very little about driving, then the onus is on the individual to ensure he does not get codded. I do not know of any case like that referred to by Deputy Faulkner but, if there is such, I would be glad to know about it. This is the first that has come to my notice.
How would a person who went to a driving instructor know whether that instructor, especially in the early stages of instruction, was competent?
There are two types. You have the instructors in country towns who are known because, in country towns, everybody knows everybody else, and there are recognised driving schools. I doubt whether someone who had just passed a driving test would be employed by a school to teach others how to drive. If a person goes to someone who has only learned to drive and does not take the trouble to find out whether he is competent or not, that is his mistake. If Deputy Faulkner knows of a case I wish he would give me the details.
But should not the public be protected? A person could have done six tests and, having failed on five, succeeded on the sixth. He could then advertise in the local paper offering himself as an instructor in driving lorries and, in such cases as that, would the Minister not consider it proper to lay down qualifications.
If I can get evidence that it is happening on a wide scale, naturally, something should be done about it but the evidence I have before me is that that is not so. That is why I am asking Deputy Faulkner if he will tell me. Deputy Lalor knows that if somebody in his town set up as a driving instructor he and everybody else in the town would know when that person qualified and whether or not he was competent to teach. That is the position in all the towns all over the country. Therefore, I cannot visualise how the fellow who has just passed his driving test could blossom out as an instructor the next day and be accepted by the public who would pay good money to be taught by him.
Has the Minister any responsibility to make sure?
No. The only responsibility I have is to find out whether or not he has taught his pupils properly.