Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 2

Written Answers. - Driving Tests.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

103 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment the number of driving tests, by category, which have taken place in each of the years from 1988 to 1992; the percentage of test failures by first time applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

Records of driving tests conducted, by category, are not available for the years before 1992 which is the first complete year for which a computer data base is available. Following are the figures for 1992:—

Category	Tests Conducted
A (Motorcycles)	1,668
B (Cars and Light Vans)	90,387
C (Trucks)	3,111
D (Buses)	1,160
E.C. (Articulated Trucks)	816
W (Work Vehicles)	90
Total	97,232

Total numbers of tests conducted in the years 1988 to 1991 were as follows:—

1988	1989	1990	1991
63,751	60,787	71,700	113,764

The rate of failure of first time applicants in 1992 was 50.3 per cent compared to a failure rate of 43.5 per cent for applicants on a second or subsequent test. Corresponding information is not available for the years before 1992. Overall rates of failure for the years 1988 to 1991 were as follows:—

1988	1989	1990	1991
45.7%	46.1%	44.9%	47.9%