Danny Healy-Rae Urges Action on Licences, Taxis and Vehicle Testing
Danny Healy-Rae raised a range of local transport and tourism concerns in a speech to the minister, urging urgent action on licences, driver testing, taxi supports, vehicle testing certificates, motor tax refunds and funding for the Killarney bypass. He pressed the minister and the government to address practical problems caused by pandemic restrictions that affect young drivers, taxi operators, haulage and hospitality businesses.
Licences and driver testing
Healy-Rae highlighted that 16-year-olds eligible for learner permits this summer are told they can apply online from the 20th of May but must have a personal services card, and there is currently no place open to obtain that card. He also raised long waits for theory and driving tests for provisional licence holders and asked if anything can be done to speed up testing for youngsters who need cars to get to work.
Support for taxi operators
He said taxis have not been mentioned in pandemic supports and urged the minister and the government to do something about taxis, noting operators go through substantial hoops to obtain licences and are in serious trouble, with some possibly unable to return to service after lockdown.
Hospitality and tourism uncertainty
He described hotels, pubs and guest houses in his county as being in an awful state, uncertain about reopening dates and fearful because there is no surety about business or when tourists will be able to visit the country.
Commercial vehicle testing and certification
He warned there is no testing currently taking place for lorries, buses, vans and jeeps and that operators have been told existing certificates will cover them only until sometime in October. He asked the minister to ensure extra time of grace and requested that vehicles tested for the first time after lockdown receive a 12-month test rather than a six-month test to avoid clogging the system.
Motor tax, seasonal workers and Killarney bypass
He asked whether elderly people cocooning at home with unused cars can receive motor tax refunds and repeated calls for seasonal workers and employers over 66—who were not recognised in pandemic payments—to be brought up to the 350 payment others have received. He also requested funding this year for preparatory work on the Killarney bypass, a project he said has been proposed for 16 or 17 years.
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Thank you very much. I'm glad, Minister, to get the opportunity to raise a number of issues here with you today. I suppose I'll start with the youngest problem I've got. It's youngsters who are the age of 16 and this summer now would be legitimate to get a provision of licence. And we are told that they can apply for these licences online on the 20th of May, which is great, but they need to have a personal services card. And there is no place open to get that now, Minister. So I'm asking you and your government to see if that matter can be addressed. Also, provisional drivers driving cars have their theory test done and everything in order and waiting for months now to do the test. Is there anything that can be done to speed up the driver testing for these youngsters who've been waiting for so long and need their car to go to work on their own? Taxis haven't been mentioned in this pandemic at all or how they could be supported. I'm asking you, Minister, again, and this government to do something about the taxis because they provide a wonderful service. These operators, they go through a lot of hoops to get a taxi licence and they haven't been mentioned and they're in serious trouble and some of them may not step back when the lockdown is over. Hotels, pubs and guest houses around our county are in an awful state, Minister, they don't know. Yes, the lockdown, they're supposed to open on certain dates, but many of them are afraid to open because there's no surety about business or about people coming into the country or at what stage tourists will be able to visit our country. Then it brings me to the testing of lorries and buses and vans and jeeps. There's no testing going on at the present time and we're told that their sets will cover them until sometime in October. But I'm asking you, Minister, when the testing reached out to ensure some extra time of grace because they won't be all tested the one day or the one week and we were under pressure to keep vehicles tested as it was. But there's one anonymously that will certainly have to be addressed and we've been looking for it before the lockdown ever came, Minister. Minister, was if you have a vehicle off the road for three or four months and you go in and you test it, you won't get a 12-month test. You will only get a six-month test. And I'm asking you now on behalf of the haulage industry, the passengers, the buses, all those people, to ensure that when they are tested for the first time at least, that they get a 12-month test. Because that's vital, otherwise they'll be back clogging the system again. And the thing is bad enough for so long now that they aren't moving at all. But at least when the lockdown is over and when the country starts moving again, please don't stop them again by only giving them a six-month certificate. Elderly people are asking that are cocooning in their homes for the last two months and their cars are packed in the yard. Is there any possibility of getting a refund on the tax, the motor tax? I'm asking you as well, Minister, and I've asked previous ministers. Seasonal workers were not recognised at all in the pandemic money that was given to many people. And the people over 66 that were employing people, and because they're over 66 and maybe getting a pension, I'm asking you please to do something to bring them up to the 350 payment that others are getting. In relation to Killarney bypass, and that bypass has proposed for the last 16 or 17 years, I'm asking you to please give funding again this year for the preparatory work that's needed to get it going. Mr. Minister, thank you very much.
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