Dan Neville
Ceist:758 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the concerns expressed by a person (details supplied) in relation to the registration and regulation of driving instructors. [1783/02]
Written Answers. - Driving Instructors.
The proposals now being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction involve a test of the competence of individual instructors, or exemption from this requirement where an instructor is accredited to an organisation of driving instructors recognised by my Department as meeting appropriate quality standards. The design of these standards is at present being formulated by a working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests. It is envisaged that as part of this process an organisation will have to seek accreditation from the National Accreditation Board that they are operating to a set standard. Accreditation cannot be confined to any one organisation. It will be open to any organisation to meet the required standard and seek recognition. The legislative basis for implementing these proposals is contained in the Road Traffic Bill, 2001.