Lowry tells NDLS Chief that driving test system 'is a shambles’

Deputy Michael Lowry has unleashed his anger and frustration at the time it takes for people to secure a Driving Test.

Speaking on Wednesday at a meeting of the Transport Committee where he addressed Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer with the National Driver Licence Service, Deputy Lowry said that the feelings of anger, resentment and frustration against the NDLS are palpable. "I get it every day" he said, "and that's why politicians and everybody giving a service to the public are angry.

"I’m angry with your operation and I want to say that I put the responsibility back to the RSA. It’s a shambles. It’s a shambles with Driving Tests, it’s a shambles with NCT’s and somebody has to take responsibility for it" the Tipperary Independent TD said.

"Every time you come in here you say you’re pushing it out, you’re making improvements. There’s no point in telling me about improvements – I’m getting letters every day from young people trying to get around the country, young nurses trying to get to their hospitals, young apprentices trying to get to their place of work, young students trying to get to college. But they can’t get a Driving Test – it’s incredible.

"When I write to you I get a generic reply – it’s just not good enough.

"I have made several cases in relation to people who should get a Driving Test on compassionate grounds. One girl got a date for September, it was then pushed out to December and, as late as this morning, she was told it would be the first week in January.

"That is not a professional service", stated Deputy Lowry, "it’s an incompetent service", as he went on to quote similarly frustrating cases that people are dealing with at present.

"People have to plan their lives, people have to make arrangements, they all have commitments. This kind of treatment is simply not good enough. In response, the NDLS Chief agreed, saying ‘It’s not good enough where we are.

He went on the say that have put a structure in place to ensure that a return to normal service. ‘We have our first block of new Testers, who started yesterday (September 18) and we will continue to bring in more Testers.

Mr. Walsh added, ‘But what I will say to you is that I agree with you – it isn’t good enough, but we are working with the Department of Transport and have sanction to bring in up to 75 Testers, which would bring the service back on track by the middle of next year.

"We are doing everything we can, the Department of Transport has been really good in helping us by giving us what we need, but it is going to take some time Deputy Lowry, and for that, I apologise".

Deputy Lowry responded: "I understand that you are operating in good faith, but the situation is really demoralising for people.

"We need a dramatic improvement. I’m talking about places like Thurles, Clonmel, Cahir and Nenagh – all of them in the same boat. People hopping from county to county trying to get a Test and then finding it’s the problem all over the country. It’s a National problem, but it seems to be particularly acute in the Munster area".