Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
267 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport if driving examiners are provided with a record of driving test candidates’ previous driving test record; and if so, if the driving instructor can inform the candidate that his attention has been drawn to the candidate’s record either prior to or following a driving examination. [20943/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides the name, address, date of birth, licence category and reference number of each candidate to the driver tester assigned to test the candidate. No information relating to previous tests, if any, is supplied to the driver tester in respect of the candidate presenting for test. The driver tester is precluded from discussing aspects of the test or related matters with the candidate.
268 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport if there is a procedure to make a complaint regarding the conduct of a driving examiner by the driving test candidate. [20944/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, a person aggrieved by the decision of a driver tester may appeal the decision to the District Court. If the court finds that the test was not properly conducted, my Department may be directed to arrange a further test, free of charge, for the person concerned.
In addition, my Department has a complaints procedure in place, of which candidates can avail. Details of the procedure are outlined in the customer complaints procedure leaflet, available at test centres and on the driving test website at www.drivingtest.ie. All complaints received in my Department are examined and necessary action taken as appropriate.
269 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport when the compulsory registration of driving schools will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20987/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraProposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet. I am considering what arrangements will be put in place to oversee implementation of the standard in the context of the establishment of the Driver Testing and Standards Authority. The Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004, which provides for the establishment of the authority, was published on 6 July 2004.
