Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Jun 1980

Vol. 322 No. 11

Written Answers. - “Amnesty” Driving Licences.

32.

Mr. B. Desmond

asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a number of employers are refusing to offer employment to persons where such employment involves the driving of company vehicles and where it is clear that such persons have not passed a driving test but are in possession of "amnesty" driving licences following his decision to excuse those provisional holders who had held a current second provisional licence from taking the driving test; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

33.

Mr. B. Desmond

asked the Minister for the Environment the reasons persons holding provisional driving licences have been allowed to drive vehicles unaccompanied by a qualified driver; if he is aware of the grave concern being expressed by many persons in the motor trade, the motor insurance industry, road safety organisations and in the Garda Síochána about this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Barrett):

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.

I am not aware that persons fail to obtain employment on the basis represented. The reasons for making the regulations in question were set out in a public statement issued in October 1979. There is no evidence to suggest that the concern alleged by the Deputy is sustainable.

The road accident information, as supplied by the Garda Síochána to An Foras Forbartha for the purpose of statistical analysis, does not distinguish those drivers who took out full licences under the October 1979 regulations. The provisional road accident statistics for the eight month period October 1979 to May 1980 compare favourably with the corresponding period a year earlier, in that there has been a decrease of 39 in the number of accidents, a decrease of 28 in the number of people killed, and a decrease of 181 in the number injured.