The Chief Executive Officer of the Road Safety Authority, Noel Brett, has said it is unacceptable that there are 430,000 people driving on provisional licences in Ireland.
Speaking to RTÉ News, he said the authority will take over responsibility for driving tests from the Department of Transport in September and is committed to reducing the backlog of tests.
Mr Brett also said the Government was working on legislation that would reform the system of driving on provisional licences.
He said the goal was to introduce new learner permits and to ensure that any restrictions are enforced in detail.
Meanwhile the union representing driving examiners, IMPACT, has rejected claims that a high level of tests are being cancelled because of sick leave by its members.
The union said 8,000 tests were cancelled this year because candidates either did not show up or arrived in cars that were not roadworthy.
IMPACT also claimed that testers conducted 25,000 extra driving tests in the first half of 2006 in an effort to reduce waiting times.
