The Minister for Transport has indicated the introduction of a compulsory basic training (CBT) scheme for motorcyclists will be delayed until "well into next year".
Originally proposed by his predecessor as part of a system to improve the driving qualities of provisional licenceholders, the then Minister Mr Brennan said he planned to expand the scheme to take in car drivers as well once it was operational. It was hoped the CBT scheme would be up and running by the start of next year.
However, any move towards compulsory basic training will be "well into next year", according to Minister Martin Cullen. Speaking last week at the Department of Transport's press briefing for the 2005 estimates, Mr Cullen said that while he had looked at the issue of compulsory basic training and there have been preliminary discussions, there are "licence issues" which remain.
Responding to the Minister's comments, a senior executive in the motorcycle insurance industry who has worked closely with the Government on the issue said he was not surprised by the apparent postponement.
"It's indeed one of the most frustrating issues I've ever been involved in. To see the cogs of Government working at close quarters is indeed most interesting, and it inspires me to know our fair green land is in safe hands for many years to come."
The Minister's comment on the timing of the introduction of CBT differs from the position taken by the former Minister, Seamus Brennan. Speaking to The Irish Times in May, he said that plans were much further advanced.
By then it had already been established that there would have to be a minimum number of hours training both on and off road.
In February this year senior examiners and Department officials had been to Cardington, the headquarters of the British Driver Standards Agency, to examine its compulsory training system which has been in place for many years.
They reported that, with very minor changes to cover specific Irish conditions, there was no need to "reinvent the wheel" and this system could quickly and easily be adopted here.
The Road Safety Strategy 2004-2005, published within days of Mr Cullen taking office, contains five measures, all of them directly relating to motorcycle training.
Ireland is almost alone in Europe in not yet having any requirement for motorists to undergo some form of basic training before being allowed to venture out onto public roads.