Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
201 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Transport further to Question No. 172 of 24 November 2004, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a letter setting out the reasons an early driving competency test was necessary for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was furnished to his Department by the person’s employer on 15 November 2004; if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32098/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of having received a letter from the person's employer in connection with his driving test application.
A driving test has been arranged for the person concerned for 5 January, 2005. Notification of this test appointment issued to him on 26 November 2004.
203 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the obligations of driver testers in respect of giving detailed markings to persons who fail their test; and if it is sufficient to simply mark one box and provide no further information to the applicant. [32137/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of a driver tester is to assess the driving competency of candidates presenting for a driving test. A report outlining driving faults is given to each candidate at the conclusion of the test.
There is no provision in place at present that obliges a driver tester to give additional feedback to a candidate regarding the test result. From February 2005 motorcycle test candidates will receive a brief verbal feedback following the test. It is hoped to extend this facility to all candidates at a later date.
204 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to change the operation and system of registration of driving instructors; if he proposes to change the position (details supplied) as set out on 14 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32292/04]
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 the Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet.
The original proposals had envisaged that driving instructors who were members of driving instructor organisations recognised by the Department as meeting appropriate quality standards would be exempt from the test of competence. Assessment of the driving instructor organisations would have been based on the organisation seeking accreditation with the national accreditation board, which would have had regard to the procedures and personnel that the organisation had in place to assess driving instructors.
As already indicated in this House during the Second Stage debate on the Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004, it is now proposed that the Driver Testing and Standards Authority will be responsible for the registration of driving instructors. I am considering what arrangements will be put in place to oversee implementation of the driving instructor standard in the context of the establishment of the authority.
205 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Transport the changes which have been made in the requirements for a C1 driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32293/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions in relation to submission of medical reports have been recast. As regards licence category C1, a medical report in respect of medical fitness to drive category C1 vehicles must be submitted to a licensing authority when application is being made for a first driving licence unless such medical report has already been submitted within the previous five years and remains valid. Such medical report must also be submitted with an application for renewal of a category C1 driving licence.
