Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Motion by Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Pringle passed by Donegal County Council, asking for Driver Theory Tests to be made available to immigrants in their native languages.

Published: 31 August, 2006

"It is very unfair that our new citizens cannot avail of the Theory Test in

their native language outside Dublin" stated Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Pringle

at a recent meeting of the County Council. He went on "there is only one

centre in the country which provides the test in languages other than Irish

or English. With thousands of immigrants living in Donegal and rural Ireland

this has to change".

Donegal County Council will ask the Department of Transport to have the

Driver Theory Test available in the native language for our new citizens in

response to a motion placed by Cllr. Pringle and passed by the council.

"I am aware of immigrants who have to take time off from low paid jobs and

travel to Dublin to be able to take the theory test in a language that they

understand, this is a huge burden on them and the test should be available

in Donegal. Immigrants have received a lot of bad press recently in relation

to road safety but yet we are making it as difficult as possible for them to

get Irish driving licenses and pass the theory test which tests an

applicants knowledge of road safety".

"The mobile test centres which carry out the theory tests only need a CD in

the various languages on board and if an applicant has difficulty reading

English they can provide them with their native language straight away.

Surely in the twenty first century this is possible for the department to

manage" states Cllr. Pringle.

"This would be a small cost to pay to maybe improve road safety and show

immigrants that the Ireland of welcomes does exist".