I would firstly like to point out that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), together with a team of national experts, advised Government in deciding which businesses could resume trading in each Phase of the gradual reopening of our economy. NPHET included driving schools on the list of businesses cleared to reopen on 29 June.
It is not the role of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to provide guidance in relation to specific sectors, as a rule, nor to provide guidance in relation to working conditions. Its role is surveillance.
A National Return to Work Safely Protocol has been produced under the aegis of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and is the result of a collaborative effort by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The HSA has in turn produced COVID-19 checklists and templates, based on the Protocol, to help employers, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again and to inform workers about what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
The RSA is developing protocols, as any employer must, to apply the overall protocols to its particular needs, including in relation to driver testing. In doing so, it was assisted by the overall national protocol and also by the additional templates and checklists from the HSA. I understand that the National Office of Traffic Medicine was also available to the RSA to assist in its tasks.
The RSA wrote to Approved Driving Instructors on 22 June, informing them of the imminent resumption of driver testing. The Authority included a series of Frequently Asked Questions, which provided details of the protocols being applied to driver testing in order to comply with health requirements in line with Government's Protocol on Returning to Work Safely. These protocols may assist driving instructors in taking the necessary measures resuming their business safely.
However, neither my Department nor the RSA cannot dictate to driving schools on how they should run their business, or issue medical advice, or indeed interfere in the statutory role of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). It is up to each driving instructor or driving school to protect themselves, their families and communities by adhering to the official Government guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.
While the RSA is responsible for driver testing and took the original decision to close the driver testing service during the pandemic, the RSA has no authority to order a suspension or resumption of driving instruction. This has to be decided by driving instructors and schools, in keeping with national policy.
While the RSA has taken the decision to suspend driving tests (although testing on motorcycles, trucks and buses resumed on 29 June) and, it is anticipated that car driving tests will be phased in shortly, the continued provision of driver tuition can only be taken by the individual driving instructor taking into account their own personal circumstances.
I understand that any company which reopens is subject to inspection by Health and Safety Authority, and may face serious sanctions, including closure, if found to be not in compliance with Covid-19 requirements.
