Richard O'Donoghue Demands Accountability for Driving Test Delays
Richard O'Donoghue criticised up to six-month delays in driving tests and demanded the government take responsibility for the backlog. He said the RSA is failing to deliver tests on time and warned taxpayers face higher taxes and fuel levies without accountability.
Key complaint
Richard O'Donoghue said young people and others who follow the legislated process - 12 lessons, theory test, 12 further lessons - are then forced to wait up to six months to get on the road, creating what he called a government problem that needs to be fixed.
Government responsibility and accountability
He argued the government should be responsible for the six-month delay, holding the RSA and officials to account. He said there is no accountability for those who fail to deliver, even as extra taxes are taken from the public.
Impact on access to work and education
He highlighted the consequences for people trying to get to work or college in areas with limited transport, saying delays in driving tests hinder access to employment and education and place undue burdens on communities.
Concerns on taxes and fuel prices
He referenced warnings that fuel prices could rise to two euros and criticised that the State is "taking a euro of that" without accountability for how taxes are applied or for services that fail to be delivered.
Calls to FISC and ministerial action
He called on the FISC to demand delivery, urged the minister to make officials accountable or move them, and suggested the State should subsidise people waiting for tests if the system cannot deliver on time.
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Minister, the taxpayers' money. So now what we have is we have up to six months in places of delay on young people getting their driving test. We have people that are following the rules that have been legislated for. You go, you get your 12 lessons done, you do your theory test, you get your 12 lessons done, and then we have to wait six months to get on the road. That then to me comes back, that becomes back a government's problem. So that means that the government should be responsible for the six months delay for the driving test. So that means there has to be an accountability. So even if you look at the fuel prices at the moment, and they are saying it is going to soar up to two euros shortly, you are taking a euro of that. But again, there is no accountability on the taxes that you take. The failure for the RSA to deliver driving tests on time, there is no accountability for that. But yet we have people all around Ireland trying to get to work, trying to get to college, because there is no transport there. Again, on the failure of somebody, but the same people that are failing all the time, there is no accountability because they are kept in their job. How can you create anything to go forward if you cannot correct the problems of the past? Accountability. That is what it is to come down to. They are not only letting us down, they are letting you down. So when is the FISC going to come down and say, we want you to deliver. If you cannot deliver, get out of the position you are in. I have said this more than once today. There is no accountability for anyone that cannot deliver. But all I can guarantee you is that you will take excess taxes on everyone, even though you cannot deliver. So I am asking you to stand up Minister, make them accountable if they cannot deliver, move them and you have to subsidise then the people that are waiting for tests.
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