asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give details of the number of people awaiting driving tests in Waterford city and county; and the total number of people awaiting examination throughout the whole country.

Particulars of the numbers awaiting test are kept by reference to the driving test centres rather than the applicants' addresses. The number of applicants awaiting appointment for test at the Waterford centre is 353 at present and at the Dungarvan centre, 231. The total awaiting appointment at all centres is 14,703.

Does the Minister not agree that that is a scandalous situation? Many of these people require full driving licences to get to their places of employment but they are unable to get tested.

They are not unable to get tested but it is not possible to test everybody at once.

If they are tested at the rate of 40 or 50 a week which, I understand, is the maximum number that can be done, surely it will be years before the 14,000 are cleared?

No, this is not so. The Deputy is wrong in suggesting that only 40 or 50 a week are tested.

How long will it take before they can be tested?

I expect the list would be cleared in a month or two. It is not the one tester for the lot.

Is the Minister aware that testers leave Dublin on Monday, reach Nenagh where they spend the night and then proceed next day to Abbeyfeale?

Is the Minister seriously suggesting that the number could be catered for in the time he mentioned?

I do not know how long it will take but it certainly will not be anything like the length of time suggested by Deputy Tully.

44.

asked the Minister for Local Government the total number of applicants for driving licences examined in each of the centres in Waterford city in the year 1967; the number in Waterford county; and the frequency with which the examinations were conducted.

Waterford and Dungarvan are the two centres in this area.

The total number of driving tests carried out in 1967 was 770 at the Waterford centre and 469 at the Dungarvan centre.

On average, testing sessions were held at Waterford in three weeks out of four and at Dungarvan in two weeks out of four.