asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the inordinate delay encountered by applicants who wish to take a driving test, and the steps, if any, he proposes to take to remedy the matter.

The present abnormal waiting period for driving tests throughout the country has arisen out of the exceptional continuing increase in the demand for driving tests in 1978, which numbered 112,018. This was an increase of 19 per cent over 1977. Nine driver testers were appointed during 1978, bringing the number of testers operating to 60 and the recruitment of extra testers will proceed in the current year. At the same time, I am reviewing all aspects of testing procedures to see if further action by me would be appropriate, without prejudice to the objectives on which the system is based.

(Cavan-Monaghan): What is the average waiting time for driving tests at the moment?

And what was it last year?

The present waiting period for driving tests ranges from 24 weeks at some eight centres to 33 weeks at two centres.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely the Minister will agree that that is outrageous?

I agree that it is too long. I have already recruited in 1978 further testers and we are continuing to recruit more testers. We took other temporary measures during the course of the year to cope with the existing backlog. These measures included the shortening of the test routes and the test times for a period of six months.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that many young men who have got jobs are not in a position to take them up and have lost the opportunity of taking a job because of being kept waiting six months for a test?

I am endeavouring to cut down that backlog by getting more testers and changing some of the test procedures.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Until this backlog is cleared will the Minister give priority to applicants for driving tests whose jobs depend on having a licence?

Where representations are made in that connection and in the event of a job being at risk we do tend to give priority.

Has the Minister any information as to the relative failure rates in other countries where testing is concerned?

That is a totally separate question.

Can the Minister explain to us how, if the number of applicants for testing has gone up by 19 per cent and the number of testers has gone up by almost 50 per cent, the period of waiting for tests is still lengthening?

I said nine driver testers were appointed during 1978 which brought the total to 60.

That is still 20 per cent and is in line with the increase in the number of applicants. That being so, why do people have to wait longer now than previously?

We always had a backlog but the backlog has increased drastically in 1978. The number of testers was increased during that year but we did not have the nine extra testers all at once. They were recruited over the year.

Arising out of the Minister's reply in relation to the number of testers that were subsequently employed, in view of the Government's overall economic strategy was such an increase in the number of registrations forecast and were the relieving measures that he now talks about already anticipated by the Department of Economic Planning and Development and if not why not?

I suggest that the Deputy should put that question to the Department concerned.

They are the Minister's testers. Presumably he talks to them. Apparently the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.