Free Driving Lessons For Secondary School Students?

Got it all in hand…

atest press release from Fine Gael’s Louise Fenelon Gaskin, issued on Wednesday, May 1st 2024…

Fine Gael local election candidate Louise Fenelon Gaskin has announced an innovative proposal aimed at integrating comprehensive driving education into the secondary school curriculum.

This proposal seeks to mandate driving lessons and the theory test as compulsory elements, with the State funding six free driving lessons to all students before they complete their Leaving Certificate.

Under the proposed plan, secondary school students will begin their driving education in Transition Year, continuing through to the senior cycle. The curriculum will include practical driving lessons provided by certified instructors and theoretical learning, culminating in students taking the official driving theory test.

Louise Fenelon Gaskin emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “Integrating driving lessons into the school curriculum will not only improve road safety but also ensure that our young people are responsible drivers.”

The proposal also comes in response to significant delays and inefficiencies in the current system for scheduling driving tests, as highlighted by Fenelon Gaskin during her canvassing in the Greystones Municipal District. Many constituents have expressed frustration with the long wait times and the need to travel far from home to expedite the process.

Louise Fenelon Gaskin’s father, Noel Gaskin, was a revered local driving instructor who prioritised safety and skill in his teaching. “My father’s dedication to driving education in our community inspires this proposal,” she added.

“By reducing wait times and making lessons accessible, we take a significant step towards safer roads.”