asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the refusal of a driving test to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and in view of the circumstances of this case, if he will now arrange for another test without cost as a matter of priority.
Written Answers. - Driving Test Refusal.
30.
I am satisfied that the driver tester concerned acted reasonably in refusing to carry out a driving test in this case. His decision was taken in accordance with established procedures laid down by my Department.
I understand that the applicant concerned arrived 13 minutes late for her test appointment. The driver testing system must be operated on the basis of a strict adherence both by applicants and driver testers to test appointment times; otherwise, the system would break down. Driver testers are given a schedule of tests to conduct at specified times and it is essential that this schedule be maintained.
Test applicants are given due warning on the notice issued to them of their test appointment that if they do not present themselves at the time appointed for their test, the test will not be conducted and the fee paid will be forfeited. It is not unreasonable to expect that applicants will make due allowance for possible traffic delays en route to test centres so that they will arrive for their test appointment on time.
In the circumstances, a further test appointment for the person concerned cannot be arranged until she forwards a fresh application and the appropriate fee to my Department.