Vol. 472 No. 3
113 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment the likely time schedule for a graduated licensing system for learner drivers to be introduced as recommended in the recent consultants report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23036/96]
The regulations at present applying to driver licensing require that, in order to obtain a full driving licence in any category of vehicle, a person must hold a provisional licence and pass a driving test. The Second EU Directive on Driver Licensing requires the introduction of a detailed theoretical test and the making of other changes in the driving test. Draft regulations to give effect to these requirements are at present the subject of consultation with the European Commission and, subject to this, it is my intention that the new regulations will be brought into force as early as possible in 1997.
I do not, at this stage, envisage further changes in the driver licensing system, such as those referred to in the Deloitte & Touche report, but I will keep the position under review in the light of experience of the operation of the revised arrangements to be introduced next year and of an evaluation of the system referred to in the report.
