Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers Mr Attwood: Driving tests in Northern Ireland are carried out by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) and are conducted from 16 locations; Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast (2 sites), Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Downpatrick, Enniskillen, Larne, Lisburn, Londonderry (2 sites), Newry, Newtownards and Omagh. All Driving Examiners, both in Northern Ireland and in Britain, are trained at the Cardington driving training establishment in Bedfordshire which is run by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). DVA, as part of DoE, places high priority on standards; ensuring candidates who pass the driving test meet the minimum safe criteria for driving on their own and there are robust procedures in place to ensure these standards are consistently applied and maintained. During the driving test each candidate is assessed against strict criteria, and if they do not succeed in all required competences they are offered a full debrief, with their instructor present if they so wish. Driving test candidates are directed around a legally compliant test route, as prescribed in European legislation. Each test centre has a minimum of 6 test routes which are, as far as possible, equal in relation to the type of road network and traffic densities. This provides equality for all candidates and ensures they all demonstrate skills in similar conditions and on roads they will encounter once they pass their driving test. DVA carry out regular quality assurance checks on all driving examiners, minimum of one day per year, to ensure the standards they apply are correct and consistent. This entails a supervising examiner accompanying a driving examiner during live tests. The supervisor observes the work of the examiner from quality, standards and customer care perspectives. In addition, examiners are provided with refresher training and in 2010-11, for example, all DVA examiners received a further five days of training. European Driving Directive 2006/126/EC is scheduled for implementation on 19 January 2013. This Directive will, amongst other things, introduce European standards for the initial qualification, quality assurance and periodic training of examiners authorised to conduct practical tests for licence acquisition. Current DVA practice is broadly in line with the requirements of the Directive and, in terms of examiner supervision, exceeds these requirements. I very much understand the point that the member is making, have discussed the matter with DVA, have asked that DVA continues to monitor to ensure consistency and proper treatment. Illegal Driving Instructors Mr McGlone asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the investigations that have taken place into the operation of illegal driving instructors; (ii) what were the findings of the investigations; and (iii) how the matter is monitored. (AQW 12983/11-15) Mr Attwood: The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) administers and maintains the register of approved driving instructors (ADIs) on behalf of the Department under the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 2007. It is illegal for anyone to charge for instruction in driving a car or motorcycle unless they are registered with the Department. Although anecdotal evidence suggests there may be some incidents of unregistered driving instruction, the extent of it is difficult to gauge. Evidence is hard to obtain since it must be established that a person has paid money for instruction and learners are often unwilling to complain to the PSNI or DVA. DVA investigates all substantive allegations of unregistered instruction where evidence has been presented and it works closely on the issue with the Road Traffic Policing Division of PSNI, which has responsibility for enforcement and prosecution. While it is not possible to provide information on individual investigations, DVA has a process in place to deal with any information received. Following a report of alleged unregistered instruction DVA obtains information, including candidate details, from the Agency’s driving test booking system. This identifies if the reported vehicle has been WA 522
Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers presented for driving tests. Where this is the case, the Agency writes to the individual affording them an opportunity to reply to the allegations either in person or in writing. DVA may also write to candidates who took driving tests in the vehicle to ask whether confirmation they have paid the unregistered instructor for driving tuition. It is at this stage that the process sometimes falls down, as individuals are often not willing to provide any information. However, where evidence of paid instruction has been presented, the details of the case are passed to PSNI for prosecution. Pending prosecution, the Agency continues to monitor the presentation by suspects of candidates for test. Since 2007 the PSNI has prosecuted two cases of unregistered instruction, and DVA is aware of one further case pending. The partnership approach with PSNI has resulted in ADI enforcement now being included in PSNI roadside vehicle check points. To date all instructors stopped at the on-road checks have been registered with the Department and compliant with the relevant legislation. If the member or others has additional information I would be pleased to hear further. Lughnasa Fair in Carrickfergus Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment whether he will review the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s decision to cancel the Lughnasa Fair in Carrickfergus, which has been running for 40 years. (AQW 12991/11-15) Mr Attwood: Due to ongoing financial pressures resulting primarily from reduced planning fee income, a number of budgets have had to be reduced across the Department. Consequently, the Events Programme has been reduced over the past two years from eleven flagship events in 2010/11 to four in 2011/12 and in 2012/13. Unfortunately, Lughnasa Fair is one of the events affected in the current year. However, the Department is committed to promoting Carrickfergus Castle as a flagship monument, not just in heritage terms but also in recognition of its value to NI tourism. We continue to run the very popular series of living history events throughout the year at the Castle which attract consistently high numbers of visitors. We are already committed to running 16 living history events between May and August this year and are planning more events throughout the year. One of the 16 events will run on the last Saturday of July, the date that the Fair would normally take place. Previously, we have also invited Carrickfergus Borough Council to work with us to run a major family event at the Castle, but unfortunately nothing came to fruition. I have asked officials to extend this invitation again, and although it is too late to reconsider Lughnasa Fair for 2012, a joint approach may result in this event re-emerging in July 2013. Strangford Lough Modiolus Restoration Plan Mr Hamilton asked the Minister of the Environment, in relation to fisheries management and fisheries involvement in any Strangford Lough Modiolus restoration plan, what communication has taken place with the Strangford Lough Fishermen’s Association about such undertakings. (AQW 12993/11-15) Mr Attwood: The Strangford Lough Fosherman’s Association (SLFA) met with the DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill and her officials on 2 April 2012 to provide feedback on the SLFA meeting with DG Environment at the European Commission. I understood that the report from QUB on the restoration of the Modiolus reefs was also discussed and that SLFA sought assurance that evidence to support its position would be made available to the Commission. Minister O’Neill held a further meeting with representatives of the fishing industry on 30 April at which the outcome of a joint DOE/DARD meeting with DG Environment was discussed. The proposals for WA 523
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Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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