asked the Minister for the Environment the number of provisional licences issued in County Louth in the past five years; the number tested in Dundalk and Navan in each of these years; if he agrees that a testing centre is now needed in the Drogheda area; if he will agree to provide it and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Driving Licences.
564.
The numbers of provisional driving licences issued by Louth County Council in the years 1978 to 1982 were, as follows:— 1978 — 7,083; 1979 — 6,957; 1980 — 5,114; 1981 — 5,203; 1982 — 4,960.
During these years, the numbers of driving tests conducted at Dundalk and Navan driving test centres were, as follows:— Dundalk 1978 — 1,790; 1979 — 1,307; 1980 — 1,399; 1981 — 1,497; 1982 — 1,529. Navan 1978 — 1,816; 1979 — 1,255; 1980 — 1,373; 1981 — 1,532; 1982 — 1,354.
Because of the present constraints on public expenditure, it is not possible to provide a driving test centre in Drogheda. This matter will, however, be kept under review.