asked the Minister for Defence the progress, if any, which has been made in the matter of issuing driving licences to people who have been trained for and who have passed the Army driving test.

Army drivers attending an advanced driving course conducted by the military authorities in January 1979 underwent driving tests, carried out by testers of the Department of the Environment, to qualify for driving licences under the Road Traffic Acts. As a result of the tests, 11 Army drivers qualified for licences to drive civilian vehicles.

I intend that all Army drivers who wish to qualify for civilian driving licences will be facilitated in the same manner.

Is the Minister saying that they can sit for the Department's driving licence if they wish? Is he aware that many Army personnel who drive heavy vehicles while in the Army cannot take up employment in civilian life because they do not have a civilian driving licence? I am sure those people had to undergo a stringent test to qualify for an Army licence. Is it possible to in-corporate the test for a civilian licence in the test for a licence to drive an Army vehicle?

Personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces acting as drivers who wish to take out a civilian driving licence will be facilitated and I advise them to contact their commanding officer.

Is it necessary to have two tests? Such personnel must undergo a stringent test to qualify to drive Army vehicles. Such personnel are well qualified to drive heavy vehicles and there should be co-operation between the Department and the Army to automatically grant such people a civilian licence when they pass the Army test.

That position does not obtain nor is it likely to obtain. The Defence Act of 1954 excludes the necessity for persons driving Army vehicles to hold the Department of the Environment driving licence. That is at it should be and it will continue to be so. On the other hand, it is the Department of the Environment who control the regulations regarding the issue of driving licences and when that legislation was brought before the House and decisions were made with regard to the introduction of driving licences here the Department made it clear that there would not be any exemption from the test for any category. The Department have maintained that position since. The Deputy should accept that the steps I have taken were taken with the intention of overcoming that difficulty. I recognise the good reason behind the decision of the Department of the Environment not to grant exemptions to any particular category. At the same time, I have taken steps which will overcome that problem. Any Army driver will be facilitated in taking out a civilian driving licence. All he need do is contact his commanding officer. There will not be any difficulties.

Army personnel drive heavy vehicles throughout the country and I would be obliged if the Minister would make arrangements whereby they will be given the two licences if they pass the Army test. That test could be carried out by the Army.

This is developing into an argument and it cannot be allowed to continue.

It is a matter that could be resolved very simply by the Minister in conjunction with the Department of the Environment.

The Deputy is failing to grasp my point. Arrangements have been made to do as the Deputy is requesting. When Army personnel are doing the Army test they will simultaneously be tested by a tester from the Department of the Environment. The person undertaking the test has only to do it once with the two testers present. This is not the big problem in the Defence Forces that some people make it out to be. We are not flooded with requests to do these driving tests. We had 11 requests in January and I am inviting other members of the Force who wish to undergo the test to come forward. The arrangements I have made have overcome this problem once and for all.

Could the Minister give a blanket cover for all tests by the Army?

If the Deputy is not satisfied with the arrangements I have made I cannot help it, but I am satisfied that the arrangements are satisfactory.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.