Michael Murphy
Tipperary South · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I want to briefly amplify what has already been said about Uisce Éireann. South Tipperary is in crisis, with 38,0000 households on a prolonged boil water notice. Most of the key towns are more often than not without water. Will the Taoiseach request a meeting for the Oireachtas Members with the CEO of Uisce Éireann, Mr. Gleeson?”
“The problem is numbers. The programme for Government rightly speaks about balanced regional development, yet when it comes to Garda resources, there is nothing balanced about the current approach. This year, 356 recruits graduated from Templemore over two intakes, and just two came to the entire county of Tipperary.”
“Businesses are witnessing open drug dealing in prime retail areas, families are increasingly concerned about antisocial behaviour and criminal gangs operate with increased confidence. At the same time, Garda visibility has reduced dramatically.”
“I am immensely proud to represent the constituency of Tipperary South, a constituency blessed with extraordinary strengths, great history, strong employment, great outdoors, an outstanding tourism offering, wonderful retail and hospitality businesses, and above all extraordinary community spirit.”
“This is about fairness. Just two gardaí have been allocated to Tipperary this year, with 245 going to the Dublin metropolitan region. Criminal gangs are operating with increased confidence in my constituency. Our gardaí on the ground in south Tipperary deserve reinforcement.”
“Will the Minister commit to organising a meeting for all Oireachtas Members in south Tipperary - I note Deputy Healy is in the room, as well as Deputy McGrath - in order to review the allocation model, particularly as it applies to south Tipperary, and more importantly, to explore a review of the Clare-Tipperary divisional structure, whic…”
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“I agree and I acknowledge that our HSE pathologists have been doing this work as independent contractors. However, these pathologists are primarily concerned and occupied by diagnostic, surgical pathology work, for example, in cancer diagnosis. Therefore, for obvious reasons, they are withdrawing as independent contractors. Between 3,000 to 4,000 coronial post mortems are carried out annually in the country at various locations, namely, Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Waterford. Is there merit in looking at this more closely in terms of some kind of a strategic plan and a national strategy for the next ten years? The real concern, certainly across the south east, is that we will become like the UK whereby there are delays of weeks and weeks. Will the Minister keep that under consideration?”
“I ask the Minister to continue to engage with the Minister for justice. Let us keep this arrangement under review so that families can have post mortems in the timely manner they deserve.”
“As the Minister says, this is ultimately the responsibility of the Department of justice under the Coroners Act. I thank the Minister for her engagement with me over the last six months. As she knows, behind every post mortem is a family in deep distress and shock. Often, these post mortems are the result of a sudden, accidental or tragic death. I welcome these interim arrangements. It is not ideal. It is my understanding that these locum pathologists are coming in from the UK three days a week. I know that members of the clergy have spoken publicly on behalf of families. Delays are already occurring. There is a panel of three locum pathologists, but could we look at increasing that number to four or five? Flights can be delayed or cancelled, somebody can have a bereavement or somebody can be sick.”
“I ask the Minister for an update on the provision of post mortem services at Waterford University Hospital following the decision by HSE pathologists operating as independent contractors for the Department of justice to withdraw from the service from 1 January.”
“The Minister just mentioned the allocation of gardaí to Cork. Maintaining law and order is not just a challenge for Cork or Dublin; it is also a challenge for every town and village across Ireland. The absence of a Garda presence has become normalised rather than exceptional in my constituency of south Tipperary. A town without order is a town that shuts down socially and economically. The Minister mentioned the most recent intake of 251, with 154 gardaí allocated - two thirds - to Dublin and Cork. What are we to conclude from that? Will the Minister engage with the Garda Commissioner to ensure we have a balanced regional allocation in terms of the four intakes for 2026?”
“As the Minister said, it fully aligns with the objectives of the programme for Government, but I accept what the Minister is saying. The 15 hours minimum requirement was only introduced in 2024 but we are now two years on, so I appeal to the Minister to maybe accelerate that consideration.”
“It was remiss of me not to acknowledge the many employers across the country who participate in the scheme. Indeed, their willingness to provide opportunities has had such a positive impact. I am engaging with service providers, not just the MooreHaven centre, but others within my constituency, and they have indicated to me that the ten-hour threshold would be far more achievable, first of all, for many employers but more importantly, it would better suit the needs of many participants, having regard to their abilities and indeed their limited capacity to work. As I said, for many the 15 hours is simply a bridge too far. This is not due to a lack of willingness but just practical and health-related constraints. Reducing the minimum requirement from 15 hours to ten hours is a sensible and what I would call inclusive adjustment.”
“I welcome the Minister's reply. I thank and acknowledge everybody working within the scheme and, in particular, individuals in the Department of Social Protection around the country working on this and other activation schemes. It is such a fantastic scheme and it is not about money or policy. It is about being able to be seen to be capable of working, to be able to work with others. I am conscious of those individuals who just do not have the capacity to work 15 hours a week and may only have the capacity to work ten hours a week. There has been a lot of feedback from employers and service providers indicating that the current minimum threshold of 15 hours per week can be a barrier. While the scheme is well designed, this requirement can limit its reach. As the Minister said, there is a commitment in the programme for Government.”
“Somewhat following on from the last question on the wage subsidy scheme, I want to acknowledge the reforms introduced by the Minister over the last number of years. I want to further explore the possibility of reducing the minimum hours from 15 to ten. Doing so this would help many service users in centres of excellence like MooreHaven in Tipperary town to achieve their dreams and it would make working in local communities a more realistic option.”
“As we prepare for Ireland's EU Presidency, I urge the Government to see this as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, one that deepens public engagement with Europe, strengthens our regions and ensures the benefits of EU membership continue to be felt, understood and valued in every part of the country.”
“A Presidency naturally raises awareness of Europe, increases engagement with EU institutions and creates momentum across the public service. It is precisely the right moment to ensure that local authorities have the tools, the expertise and the support to engage meaningfully, not just during the Presidency but long after it is concluded. If we want Europe to be visible and relevant in every community, we must empower those who work closest to the people on the ground. Strengthening local authority engagement with Europe is not just about funding. It is about trust, understanding and democratic connection.”
“It provides a shared service for the three regional assemblies and all 31 local authorities, supports the Irish delegation to the European Committee of the Regions and acts as a vital bridge between Brussels and local government in Ireland. I welcome the recent strengthening of the office with additional staff now in place in Brussels, bringing the total to four. However, as EU policy and funding programmes become more complex and competitive, a gap remains at the local level. A proposal has been developed to support local authorities through dedicated EU officers working in regional clusters. That proposal is not yet implemented but Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency presents the ideal opportunity to advance it.”
“If people do not see or understand how European decisions affect their daily lives, that connection can weaken. That is why engagement at the local level is so important. Local authorities are uniquely placed to play this role. They are closest to the citizens. They deliver on the ground and are often the first point of contact between citizens and public services. When local authorities are well equipped to engage with EU policy and funding, Europe becomes real and tangible for people rather than distant or abstract. In that context, I highlight the strategic role of the Irish Regions European Office, IREO.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate following the European Council meeting in December. I will focus my remarks on Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU and the opportunity that this presents to reconnect European policymaking with people and communities on the ground across the country. Europe is not an abstract concept; Europe is present in every city, town and village across Ireland. It is present in our roads and public transport, water and housing infrastructure, community facilities, skills and training programmes and opportunities available to young people. That connection is not always visible and it cannot be taken for granted. Ireland has enjoyed strong and consistent public support for EU membership but positive sentiment must be nurtured.”
“One hundred and ninety precious lives were lost on Irish roads last year. We have a crisis when it comes to road safety. We also have a crisis when it comes to compliance with existing road traffic legislation. In December alone, there were 26,500 fines for speeding, thousands were fined for not wearing a seatbelt or for using a mobile phone, 765 were convicted of either drink or drug driving, and 3,000 vehicles were seized on the side of the road. That was in December alone. Driver behaviour matters. Enforcement shapes driver behaviour. Does the Taoiseach agree that the number one priority has to be strengthening the roads policing unit? It currently stands at fewer than 650, which is 400 fewer than 15 years ago.”
“I agree with everything the Minister said. Crucially, balanced regional development must be reflected in outcomes on the ground. South Tipperary, Clonmel and all the other key towns offer everything the IDA is looking for, such as a proven industrial ecosystem that the Minister mentioned. A town like Clonmel has so much potential. The crucial step in this regard was securing planning permission, which was a critical barrier for inward investment. That should translate into momentum. I press upon the Minister to push this was the IDA. The authority needs to set clear milestones for delivering this project and delivering industry. I welcome any intervention by the Minister and I particularly welcome his comments about the Bulmers visitor centre, which has so much potential and is located in the heart of the town.”
“There is a sense locally that it is now time for delivery, so any support the Minister can give us in that regard would be appreciated.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. In particular, I thank him for visiting south Tipperary in December, when he got an opportunity to see the strengths of south Tipperary and of our key towns, particularly Clonmel. He also got an opportunity to see our strengths in terms of our strong employment and the really strong presence of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. All of this is backed up by a strong set of skills, proper infrastructure and, as I said, an established industrial base. As the Minister said, the recent granting of planning permission for a 100,000 sq. m advance building solution is an important step forward. The concern at local level is that IDA has owned over 50 acres at Ballingarrane for more than 20 years.”
“Following the Minister's recent visit to south Tipperary, what is the current status of the IDA-owned lands at Ballingarrane in Clonmel? Can he confirm the extent to which IDA Ireland is actively marketing the site, state whether any expressions of interest have been received for the site and outline the timeline for the delivery of an advance building solution that was recently granted planning permission on the site?”
“I heard the Taoiseach speaking earlier about the 180 precious lives lost on Irish roads so far this year. Motorcycle deaths are the highest in more than 20 years. As policymakers and legislators, we have to do more. I am currently working on an action plan and working closely with road victim advocacy groups. Over the next four years during the lifetime of this Government, 500 more lives will be lost. A key priority is the strengthening of our roads policing unit. Back in 2009, that unit stood close to 1,050. We have 1 million extra vehicles on Irish roads and that unit currently stands at 633. I appeal to the Taoiseach to act decisively on this, to engage with the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Garda Commissioner to strengthen our roads policing unit.”
“I am sure the Minister agrees there are huge disparities between systems North and South in public sector pay structures, pension liabilities, welfare supports in particular, and broader public spending. Any future settlement, whenever it might arise, will have significant financial consequences for this State. Ignoring that reality does not make it go away. All I am seeking, and what the public deserves, is clarity on whether the State has even begun to model these implications. If unity is ever to happen, it must be built on facts and not on vague assumptions or political slogans. My question is really about sensible and prudent long-term planning, nothing more and certainly nothing less.”
“If we want to be informed and want responsible debate, we must first establish a clear understanding of the potential financial landscape.”
“I support the long-term aspiration of Irish unity based on consent. However, if we are serious about this aspiration, we also need to be serious about the practicalities that come with it and the financial implications. Right now, there is little discussion about the fiscal implications of Irish unification, particularly disparities that exist in public sector pay and pensions, social protection systems, taxation, health and infrastructure. This is not a political question. It is simply a question of good governance and having all of the information. The Good Friday Agreement provides a democratic pathway for constitutional change, but that pathway requires facts, not assumptions. My question is simple. Has the Department assessed the potential cost implications for the State?”
“To what extent has the Department assessed the potential cost implications for public sector pay and pension liabilities that would arise in the event of Irish unification? This is not a political question. It is a simple question of forward planning, good governance and having all the facts in the context of this important debate.”
“We need a backlog reduction task force, emergency procurement of surveyors and contractors and a fast-track system for the elderly and particularly high-risk households. This is about dignity, fairness and the basic right to a warm home. We need timelines, capacity and an action plan or the scheme will continue to fail the very people it was created to protect. People in their 90s who applied in quarter 3 of 2024 will not be alive when their houses are due for a survey.”
“I cannot understand why we cannot deliver insulation upgrades within six months. The expansion of the fuel allowance to those on the working family payment would see a surge of 50,000 new houses qualifying for the warmer homes scheme. If we expand eligibility without expanding delivery capacity, we will simply deepen frustration, lengthen queues and worsen energy poverty. There are, I say again, 20,000 homes on the waiting list. If nothing changes, these numbers will only go in one direction, which is upwards. I am telling the Minister of State that I will be here again next year and there will be 30,000 homes on the waiting list. It will take 16 or 18 months for a survey. It will take more than three years for full completion of works and vulnerable people cannot wait for three years.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply, which alluded to a 21-month waiting time. Correspondence sent to me directly by the SEAI confirmed that the waiting time is somewhere between 24 and 26 months. People came into my office in quarter 3 of 2024 and as of now, 14 months later, the SEAI cannot tell me when these homes will be surveyed. I have people in their 90s who applied in quarter 3 of 2024. They will not be alive when their house is due for a survey. I appreciate the Minister of State's reply, but there is no concrete or time-bound plan. Nothing will change for people who are currently waiting for years for essential upgrades and insulation. I cannot understand why we cannot get the surveys done quicker. Not every house needs a heat pump or a new set of windows. Sometimes houses just need insulation.”
“Will the Department intervene directly to ensure that the SEAI increases contractor and surveyor capacity immediately? We cannot keep telling vulnerable people to wait three winters for a warmer home. We cannot expand eligibility by 50,000 households while pretending the scheme can cope as it stands. This requires urgency, action and leadership now, not later.”
“The SEAI currently has no action plan, no surge capacity, no backlog reduction strategy and no timeline for clearing the existing 20,000 cases. Money is not an issue but delivery is and telling people that we have increased funding is meaningless if funding does not translate into workers on roofs, contractors on the ground, insulation going into walls and people living in warmer homes. When will a full, published action plan be produced to address the backlog of 20,000 homes? What contingency planning has been done for the additional 50,000 homes that will become eligible under the expanded fuel allowance scheme? Will the Government commit to a maximum six-month waiting time for a survey for any applicant on the fuel allowance?”
“The Minister of State knows as well as I do that these are not discretionary upgrades. These are essential measures for people at risk of fuel poverty. The critical point that I want to emphasise is that the number of people on the fuel allowance, the key qualifying criteria for the warmer homes scheme, is expanding dramatically. From next year those on the working family payment will be eligible. That is an additional 50,000 households, bringing the total number of fuel allowance recipients to more than 500,000. If nothing changes, the warmer homes scheme waiting list will surge even further because eligibility will expand faster than delivery capacity. This is not a projected problem; it is an inevitability.”
“The warmer homes scheme is supposed to protect the most vulnerable households in our society, including older people, low-income families, people living alone and those wholly dependent on supports like the fuel allowance. Right now the scheme is failing them and it is about to get far worse. I will outline the current reality. On 4 November this year my office contacted the SEAI on behalf of a vulnerable client who applied for the warmer homes scheme in October 2024. Almost 14 months later she is still awaiting a survey or an allocation. The timelines are staggering. It is taking 14 months to get a survey, 26 months for works and another three months for post-works inspection. This is not a functioning scheme. We already have 20,000 homes on the waiting list.”
“This is not an abstract policy issue; this is a human one. There are 700 cases every year. Every day that a family waits for a post mortem is a day they cannot hold a funeral, cannot begin the grieving process and cannot find closure. That is the reality that awaits hundreds of families across the south east if this service collapses on 1 January. Coroners, funeral directors and front-line responders still have no guidance. Families deserve reassurance that they will not be left waiting in deep distress for a service that is their right. I again ask the Minister, respectfully but firmly, to commit to guaranteeing that no family across the south east will face avoidable delays or uncertainty on the most difficult days of their lives. The people we represent in the south east deserve nothing less.”
“We are little more than 40 days from a cliff edge that the Minister has just described as a "critical juncture". From 1 January post mortems will no longer be carried out at UHW, a service that carries out 700 cases every year, which are often the most tragic and traumatic of deaths. Behind every one of these cases is a family in shock waiting for answers and waiting simply to lay a loved one to rest yet today, with the deadline fast approaching, there is no clarity on who will perform these examinations, where they will take place,or how families in counties Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary will be protected from delays that could last days or weeks. How will the Minister ensure that bereaved families in the south east are not plunged into a crisis of delays, distress and indignity from 1 January?”
“I know that, with his support, this can finally move from engagement to delivery. He is absolutely right. What we want in Clonmel, Kilsheelan, Carrick-on-Suir and the rest of Tipperary is tar and plenty of it.”
“The message is very straightforward. The N24 is essential national infrastructure and the imbalance in its progression cannot continue. I have engaged with both the Minister and TII. I thank them for that but we now need delivery. The Cahir to Limerick section is moving at pace and will be subject to a significant announcement today. Unfortunately, the Cahir to Waterford section remains stalled. In the meantime, the congestion on the Clonmel bypass shows the cost of inaction. There is pressure on safety, lost economic potential and weakened regional connectivity. Advancing the Cahir to Waterford section to detailed design in 2026 and securing funding for 2026 are the steps required to put this project back on track. I am very grateful for the Minister of State's support. I thank him for taking this question today.”
“This results in daily congestion, compromised safety and real economic loss for businesses and communities across Tipperary and the wider region. It is not a local issue. It is a bottleneck that is affecting connectivity between Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford and ultimately the functioning of our ports and supply chains. The N24 is a spine linking two major cities yet one half of the corridor moves ahead while the other is left waiting. That is simply not tenable. I am appealing to the Minister of State for any support and his direct intervention with the Minister, the Department of Transport and TII to ensure the Cahir to Waterford section moves to detailed design in 2026. It is crucial that funding be provided in 2026 to put this project firmly back on track. This not about delivery or delay. We just need to get this project moving.”
“The N24 upgrade, particularly the Cahir to Waterford section, is a critical piece of national infrastructure yet throughout all of 2025, the project has remained stalled at the preferred route stage with no movement towards detailed design. At the same time, the Cahir to Limerick section has advanced, creating what is a clear imbalance along a single strategic corridor. In my role as Chair of the Oireachtas committee on transport, I have engaged directly with the Minister and also with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, including as recently as Wednesday last, and I thank both for their engagement. However, engagement is not enough. We now need delivery. On the ground, the urgency is obvious. The Clonmel bypass is carrying more than 20,000 vehicles every single day, far beyond its intended capacity.”
“On Monday of this week the High Court quashed a section 5 declaration applying to Dundrum House Hotel. This site is no longer planning compliant, yet we maintain a multimillion-euro IPAS contract with a company whose shady business dealings are before the High Court. There is no accountability, no transparency and no due diligence. This is not about IPAS; this is about the taxpayer and the people of Dundrum. Since we have entered into this contract, we have lost a golf course. Some 780 members can no longer drive a golf ball on the golf course. We lost all the ancillary activities as well. This is about standing up for the proud people of Dundrum. More importantly, it is about standing up for the taxpayer. I ask that this multimillion-euro contract be brought to a halt.”
“The question of greater North-South integration and any future constitutional change carries profound economic implications. It is really important that we approach this debate with honesty and clarity. Further integration will require significant investment, aligning public services, connecting infrastructure, integrating health and education and ensuring social welfare compatibility. If we are to maintain public confidence, we need transparent, independent economic analysis. We need to be honest about the challenges and the opportunities.”
“It will be a very positive day in Templemore tomorrow when 194 new recruits will be passing out. Unfortunately, many of these new recruits will be allocated to the metropolitan cities while in my constituency the key towns of Tipperary, Cashel, Cahir, Fethard, Carrick-on-Suir and my hometown of Clonmel will be left behind. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that maintaining law and order is not just a challenge for our cities. It is a challenge for every town, village and community across Ireland. I am very proud of Clonmel but maintaining law and order is an enormous challenge. Of the four allocations this year, we received four additional gardaí but many more have transferred out. At the end of this year, Clonmel will have fewer gardaí than it did at the beginning of it. I appeal to the Tánaiste to intervene.”
“The Government should call a halt to this contract, take stock and ensure that future contracts are rooted in transparency, legal clarity and genuine local dialogue. Dundrum deserves nothing less than fairness, honesty and respect for its people, its heritage and its place in the life of the State.”
“The golf course is at its heart. It was not merely an amenity. It was an historical landmark woven into the social and recreational life of generations. Its closure has had a devastating impact on local workers, clubs and residents. It represents the loss of a gathering place, a sense of identity and a shared heritage. Now we face further uncertainty, with a section 5 declaration central to the legality of this development due before the High Court on Monday. There are serious issues at stake not only in this case, but wider afield. I will not comment on matters sub judice but it is clear that the process to date has fallen short in terms of the standards the public rightly expects in planning, governance and community engagement. It is time to do the right thing.”
“Over recent months, the situation in Dundrum, south Tipperary, has become a test case for how we as a State balance urgent humanitarian obligations with proper process, transparency and respect for local communities. From the outset, I raised serious concerns about the lack of due diligence and transparency surrounding this decision, which regrettably have proven well founded. A substantial public contract was entered into with a company only incorporated in January of this year. That fact alone should have triggered greater scrutiny. Instead, the process proceeded with minimal oversight, limited consultation and little clarity about accountability or planning compliance. It is important to remember what Dundrum is. It is a small village of approximately 200 people, a place with deep roots and a strong sense of community.”
“In the week of COP30, I call out the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, for its utter failure to deliver the warmer homes scheme in a timely manner. This week I got confirmation from the SEAI that the average waiting time for initial assessment is 14 months, and a minimum of 26 months from application to completion. What really concerns me is the lack of urgency from the SEAI and the lack of an action plan to reduce waiting times for what are really vulnerable customers. They need these urgent heating upgrades. It is time we held the SEAI to account. I appeal to the Minister to reach out to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his Department to engage with the SEAI. If it cannot deliver the scheme in a timely manner, let us get somebody else to deliver it.”
“As I said, there were 1,000 missed tests in July and another 1,000 in August. I am still waiting for the figures for September. Will it be through improved notifications, rescheduling, flexibility or perhaps penalties for repeated absences? Again, this is not about punishment. It is ensuring that the learner system works as intended, that it promotes good driving habits and that it protects all road users. It is about implementation. I welcome that either the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, signed the regulations yesterday or that the signing of the regulation is imminent. The RSA is ready. It is time to act now.”
“Some of those 60,000 are in receipt of learner permits on more than 20 occasions. The Minister of State might give clarification on the timeline. As I said, the reply in front of me said the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, signed this yesterday, which I really welcome. Is there any further clarity around any transitional arrangements? I know the RSA published its action plan to reduce waiting times back in May. I suggest now that this action plan is updated with this significant additional load of 60,000. It is really important that we maintain waiting times at around ten weeks and that capacity in the system to do 7,200 tests on a weekly basis. On the issue of no-shows, can the Minister outline what measures are being considered to reduce the rate of missed tests?”
“I thank the Minister of State. I have a reply in front of me and perhaps he could give clarification. It says that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, signed a regulation yesterday. If that is the case, I welcome that. I also welcome the reply the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, has just given and again acknowledge the Department's efforts to improve driving tests overall. As the Minister of State knows, this issue has been flagged repeatedly by the RSA and by the transport committee, of which, as he said, I am Chair, but more importantly by the public and road victims advocacy groups, in particular Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Care, PARC. The commitment dates back to 2014 but we still have a situation where tens of thousands of drivers can legally stay on the road without ever proving they are competent to drive.”
“I urge the Minister of State to bring those regulations forward without delay because every month that passes is another month where this loophole continues to undermine road safety and fairness. This reform has been promised for over a decade; it is now time to deliver it.”
“A related issue, which must be tackled at the same time, is the growing number of no-shows for driving tests. In July and August alone, over 6,000 hours of testers' time were lost because candidates simply did not turn up. In fact, it was 2,000 candidates. That is the equivalent of hundreds of extra tests that could be carried out, tests that people who are desperately waiting could have taken. I understand efforts are being made to reduce waiting times but unless this loophole is closed and the no-show rate is addressed, the system will continue to face unnecessary pressure. The Department's own statement from earlier this year said that secondary legislation is being prepared to give effect to this change and the RSA is finally finalising its implementation plan.”
“The situation is deeply unfair to the majority of learners who do the right thing - those who complete their lessons, prepare properly and take the test when they are ready. It also undermines public confidence in the system. The RSA confirmed before an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport committee meeting in June that draft regulations have been prepared to deal with this issue and the process with the Department is at final engagement stage. The RSA expects implementation to be imminent. These regulations will, as I understand it, limit renewals to three learner permits and require a person to sit a driving test before a further renewal is granted. I believe that is a fair, balanced and long overdue reform, but it needs to happen now.”