Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 3

Written Answers. - Driving Instructor Register.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

141 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps required to enable a person to become a registered driving instructor; his plans to co-ordinate the standards by which a person purporting to be a driving instructor can offer such services to the public in a manner that will ensure that a person contracting to pay for such instructions and lessons will have a reasonable prospect of passing their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12298/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

A driving instructor must have appropriate insurance cover and hold a full driving licence for the category of vehicle in which he is giving driving instruction. Many driving instructors are currently enrolled under the voluntary driving instructor register that is financially supported by my Department and involves driving instructors undergoing an examination procedure in order to become enrolled on the register.

Proposals now being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction involve a test of the competence of individual instructors, or exemption from this requirement where an instructor is accredited to an organisation of driving instructors recognised by my Department as meeting appropriate quality standards. The design of these standards is being formulated by a working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests. It is envisaged that as part of this process an organisation will have to seek accreditation from the National Accreditation Board that they are operating to a set standard. The legislative basis for implementing these proposals has been updated in the recently enacted Road Traffic Act, 2002.

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 140.