One fifth of motorists driving on provisional licences

New figures from the Department of Transport have reportedly revealed the full extent of the fiasco surrounding driving tests in Ireland.

Reports this morning said the figures showed that one fifth of motorists were driving on provisional licences and one in every seven of these had spent at least eight years on the road without passing a test.

The number waiting to sit their tests is also reportedly increasing rather than falling, with 12,000 people on the waiting list at one Dublin testing centre.

Labour Party TD Róisín Shorthall said today that the figures highlighted the urgent need for a major overhaul of testing procedures.

"There needs to be enough testers put in place in order to deal with the demand that's there," she said.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has announced plans to privatise some driving tests, but this is vehemently opposed by existing testers.

The Civil Service Arbitration Board has also ruled that any attempt by the Government to force through the privatisation will be a breach of social partnership unless it has the agreement of trade unions.