The programme for Government refers to road safety in terms of enhancing driver training and introducing re-education courses for those who commit road traffic offences. I have raised the issue of the backlog of the Tallaght test centre with three different Ministers and now two different taoisigh. Five years ago, there were 5,000 people on the waiting list in Tallaght. There are now 18,000 waiting to sit their test. I do not know where the capacity for retraining and retesting will come from.

Talk of additional tests is a drop in the ocean for what is required. Can the Taoiseach outline how his Government promises to deal with this ongoing backlog and demand in places like Tallaght? I suggested the opening of an additional testing centre in south Dublin but this seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

I am really concerned; 18,000 are waiting. Will I have to raise this at Easter and there will be 20,000 then? In another couple of months will it be 25,000? We need solutions.

I agree with the Deputy and that is why the last Government in the last number of months proposed structures to reform the Road Safety Authority, in terms of dividing work particularly in terms of the operational issues like driver testing, so there will be a more focused approach on that which is separate to the broader work the RSA is engaged in with respect to road safety. A new CEO for the RSA has been approved by the Government and the structures simply have to change - that has already been decided and it is now up to us to implement that change and get these waiting lists down. They are not acceptable.