asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider instituting some system of licensing and control for driving schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Driving Schools Control.
21.
I do not consider that present circumstances warrant the introduction of such a scheme.
The Minister gave the same sort of reply about 12 months ago. Does he still think it is not necessary to ensure some control for the protection of the public, particularly young people, taking driving instructions so that they will get proper instruction from properly registered driving schools? Does the Minister not think the matter is serious?
Very few complaints are made against the standard of those in the driving schools. Occasionally somebody will complain because he fails to pass his driving test after doing a course in the school. That does not prove that the school is not doing its job properly. So far there is no evidence, no more than there was twelve months ago which would support a claim to have registration of driving schools. That is the information I have, and I think it is correct.
Is the Minister aware that anybody in this country, once he has a driving licence, can put a notice in the paper or over his door setting himself up as a driving instructor? Does the Minister think that is right or proper?
This is a situation which has existed here and in other countries for a very long time, and if there are complaints to be made and a case to be made for a system of licensing, I will consider it, but so far no case has been made.
The fact that the same situation exists in other countries does not justify it. Surely there is a self-evident need for some regulation to control the ludicrous situation whereby anybody can put a sign up and call himself a driving instructor.
What I am trying to explain is that, although that appears to be the situation, there are no complaints except from an odd person who will say he took a driving course and did not pass his test. That is not evidence that the driving instructors are not competent, which is what the question suggests.