Cullen’s driving test plan left in tatters

GOVERNMENT plans to reduce the backlog of more than 130,000 people waiting for driving tests were in tatters last night.

An independent adjudication body found Transport Minister Martin Cullen's proposal to outsource tests to private firms would breach the terms of the Sustaining Progress social partnership agreement.

As the ruling of the Civil Service Arbitration Board (CSAB) is binding, it means Mr Cullen cannot proceed with the plan. Instead, his department will have to find other ways of reducing the massive backlog.