asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that those who need a driving licence to qualify for a job must wait at least three months before they will be granted a test and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Applicants who establish their need to undergo the driving test in connection with employment are usually given the test within six weeks of applying, because of this factor.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is not it a fact that the average waiting time for driving tests was stated in the House not so long ago to be several months?

That is quite true but applicants who establish their need to undergo the test in connection with employment or for any other urgent purposes are facilitated and usually given a test within six weeks of applying.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister indicate to us the most effective way of establishing a person's need?

An example would be if a job was on offer to a person.

15.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of driving licences which have been granted in 1978 and how many have been granted since January this year.

As the reply contains a tabular statement, I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Returns by licensing authorities of the numbers of driving licences issued in

As returns are made annually to the Department, the number of licences granted since 1 January 1979 is not available.