John Browne
Ceist:261 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will use qualified Army personnel to augment driver testing in view of the backlog. [20356/99]
Vol. 509 No. 4
261 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will use qualified Army personnel to augment driver testing in view of the backlog. [20356/99]
My Department has allocated significant additional resources to the driving test service in an effort to reduce the waiting time for a driving test. The number of driver testers has been increased by more than 50 per cent in the past 12 months bringing the current total to 101.
With the increased resources which have been made available, improvements in waiting times are being realised in most test centres. This process of reduction should extend to all centres. Consequently the use of qualified Army personnel to augment driver testing is not being considered at this time.
262 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be called for his driving test. [20388/99]
A test appointment will issue to this person shortly.