asked the Minister for Local Government if he will have an official examination carried out on the activities of schools of motoring with a view to establishing, if possible, the value of the service being provided to the learner driver.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools of Motoring.
32.
I have no proposal to carry out an examination of the type mentioned by the Deputy. I am, however, considering the preparation of regulations under section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 to control the giving of driving instruction for reward. The section provides for, inter alia, control of the qualifications and licensing of driving instructors.
I am very glad to hear what the Minister has to say. May I ask him if he is aware, presumably he is, that there appears to be no uniformity at all in the standard applied even within schools for the purpose of qualifying for teaching; secondly, that there is no uniformity in teaching methods among the drivers concerned, and that in certain schools the main policy appears to be to string along the person trying to learn how to drive as long as possible as a customer, rather than to make a genuine effort to teach that person how to manipulate a motor car?
While I am aware that the complaints which the Deputy has made do apply to some driving schools, I am glad to say the majority are doing an excellent professional job. I would not like any slur to be cast on them, and I am sure Deputy Flanagan does not want to do that.
No.