Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has pledged to eliminate the waiting list for driving tests by next June when the deferred restriction on learner drivers comes into force.
In a climbdown from the Government's position of last week, Mr Dempsey announced yesterday that holders of a second provisional licence will be allowed to continue driving unaccompanied until June 30th.
A plan to ban such licence holders from driving, unless in the company of a fully-qualified driver, had been due to take effect from midnight tonight.
Opposition parties, while welcoming the decision, accused the minister of a humiliating U-turn and claimed the whole episode demonstrated he was not up to the job.
Mr Dempsey said he had taken the decision to defer the implementation of the system because it could have led to resentment against the whole new road-safety regime.
