Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
114. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the number of approved driving instructors that died of Covid and the research, if any, that the Road Safety Authority or the Department of Transport commissioned into the way to safely work in a car and the guidance the RSA shared with ADIs. [31804/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are either self-employed or work for a driving school company. As such, there is no employer-employee relationship between ADIs and either the Road Safety Authority (RSA) or this Department. Therefore, there is no information available to this Department of the nature sought by the Deputy.
The RSA issued guidelines on ADIs to assist them to make arrangements to keep themselves as safe as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. These were in line with the public health advice in place nationwide at the time. Ultimately, it is a matter for each instructor to take measures to ensure their own safety and that of their customers.
The nature of driving lessons means that it requires two people to be within 2 metres of each other for a period of up to an hour at a time. It was up to each driving instructor, as regulations permitted at various points during the pandemic, to make their own decisions about whether to provide driving instruction or not. Those that opted not to work were eligible for the PUP payment.
