I have received information from the Road Safety Authority, RSA, in response to a parliamentary question. The RSA has said that nationally, a total of 44,746 applicants are waiting to be scheduled for a driver test. This concerns the addendum of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017. He has added a provision affecting learner drivers. The figures go to the heart of what I and others in the Rural Independent Group have been saying for some time. There is a huge delay in getting tests. Are we going to penalise learner drivers, put them off the road and confiscate their cars as well? It is deeply alarming that the number of almost 45,000 does not include those already scheduled for a test. The Minister should get his house in order before he tries to rush through legislation that is unenforceable as far as I am concerned, and as the people of the country know. In Tipperary alone, 1,700 people are waiting for a test. After failing the test, one cannot get a retest for a month. The Minister is criminalising ordinary families, ordinary people who want to learn to drive to go to college or work. He is now threatening to have their parents locked up. Someone needs to rein him in and teach him something about rural Ireland.

I am not quite sure what the Deputy's question is.

I am asking about the number of people waiting for driver tests. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is trying to take all drivers with an L-plate off the road and lock up their parents if necessary.

Why is the Deputy raising the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017, which he has tried to stall and delay as much as he can in this House?

Is the Tánaiste not up to speed with the Minister, Deputy Ross? Are they talking at all? Are they in the same Cabinet?

I will ask the Minister to come back with an accurate response regarding driver testing.

That is a very good idea.

I thought the Tánaiste was looking after rural Ireland.