I thank my colleague Deputy Ahern for providing me with some time to address a matter the Minister of State knows is very close to my heart and the hearts of the people of Drogheda. I have a very straightforward question for him. Where is Drogheda's new permanent driving test centre? He and I have engaged on this on a number of occasions in recent weeks. I appreciated the helpful updates he provided. For the benefit of the House, it is worth recording that in July of last year, the RSA said that the new driving test centre in Drogheda would be open and up and running in August. What then followed were a series of "nearly there" statements from the RSA that are in effect continuing without any public statements, at least, clarifying exactly where we are at the moment. There is a huge amount of frustration in my community. Drogheda is the largest town in the country that has yet to become a city. The fact is we do not have even a temporary centre at this point. The temporary centre was closed a short number of years ago and not replaced. It should have been, in the interim, to allow for the permanent centre to be developed. The fact we do not have it is a disgrace. The profile of the population in the area is very young. People who are actively seeking to get into the workforce, or maybe to change job where they are required to have a driving licence, are required to go to already stretched centres in Navan and Dundalk. Admittedly, the numbers have come down in Navan and Dundalk, thanks to the work of the Minister of State and the RSA. We know that the testers who were taken on with the intention of working at the Drogheda centre in late August or early September have been deployed to other regional centres to address issues with the list. It is not unrealistic to expect that young people who are living in one of the largest urban areas in the country would be able to have their driving test done in their home community on the roads with which they are familiar and drive on with their instructors. This is something that needs to be addressed. I would appreciate it very much if at the end of this debate, the Minister of State could put on the record the very clear position of the RSA. I believe this will happen. I know technical issues have arisen. The RSA is committed to this. I absolutely accept that but it would be useful if a public statement were made recommitting to the permanent driving test centre in Drogheda and clarifying and confirming precisely when it will be in operation.

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