309 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, regarding proposals he announced on 14 December 1999 for the improved quality control and regulation of driving instruction and the creation of other recognised bodies on the lines of the DIR, he will list the names of the other recognised bodies. [18763/01]

310 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the funding which would be available should a driving instructors organisation satisfy the Department that its organisation and structures would be capable of achieving and maintaining a high standard of driving instruction among its members. [18764/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.

The proposals now being developed by my Department for the regulation and/or quality control of driving instruction involve a test of the competence of individual instructors, or exemption from this requirement where an instructor is accredited to an organisation of driving instructors recognised by my Department as meeting appropriate quality standards.

The design of these standards is at present being formulated by a working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests.

Recognition of particular driving instruction bodies must await the completion of this process. In principle it will be a matter for such bodies to operate on a self-financing basis.