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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Online driver theory and Safe Pass

Summary

Deputy Fitzmaurice asked if driver theory tests and Safe Pass requirements could be moved online because people could not access them. The Tánaiste said he would check with the RSA, though he noted the problem of verifying the person taking an online test.

At the moment, it is not possible for somebody to do a driver theory test. A mass of people are looking to get their licences. One cannot get a Safe Pass. Is there any way of trying to allow them do something online? I was talking to a guy yesterday who has been driving a car for 25 years. He has to have the trailer licence for which one has to do a theory test. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, might be fond of bikes but cars, lorries, tractors and so on are needed in this country. Could some commonsense measure not be brought in by the Department of Transport, and I understand we are in a pandemic, to allow people make applications online straightaway? Three or four months is too long to wait and too many people who have the prospect of work cannot go to work because of the situation in which they are caught.

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy. Again, I will check that out with the Road Safety Authority, RSA. I do not see why it could not be done online but I can see an obvious difficulty. How would one know that the person who is doing the test online in their own home is actually the person who is supposed to be doing the test? There would be a difficulty with that. I will definitely make contact with the RSA and see if we can do something because I appreciate the problem is a real one.

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