Press Room

Macra na Feirme national president Colm Markey will next week lead a delegation to meet with Minister for Transport Martin Cullen to highlight what he describes as 'the shoddy treatment of young drivers at the hands of the current government.'

Mr Markey, who is calling on the Minister to address the current situation of excessive waiting periods for driving tests, points out that:

The average waiting period for a driving test has increased over the past three years.
The average waiting time for a driving test in 2003 was seven months, but this figure now stands at over ten months.

The number of provisional drivers on the waiting list for a driving test is increasing.
In May 2005 the number of provisional drivers on the waiting list for a test was 124,250, but this figure now stands at 130,508.

Despite a decrease in the cost of motor insurance for provisional drivers, recent research carried out by Macra na Feirme shows that these waiting lists are costing provisional drivers over EUR23 million each year in higher insurance premiums by denying them the opportunity to sit tests and obtain a full licence.

The leader of the organisation representing rural young people is adamant that the current situation cannot be allowed to continue.

'The majority of young people in rural areas depend on their cars, whether for travelling to work or for just going about their day-to-day business. We have had promises in the past that initiatives would be implemented to reduce waiting lists, but all that has happened is that waiting lists are getting longer. The Minister must give a clear indication as to when, and how, he intends to rectify the situation and guarantee that provisional drivers are kept no longer than six weeks on a waiting list to sit their driving test,' said Mr Markey.

'A detailed plan is required for which the Minister can be held accountable. Aspirational promises are just not good enough at this stage,' he said.

-ends-