Mayo councillor unhappy with fines for learner drivers

A MAYO elected representative is unhappy to hear about young people being fined for not being accompanied while driving.

Since the beginning of 2019, over 11,600 fixed charged notices were issued nationally to learner drivers, for which over 2,300 were summoned to court for not paying the charge.

Councillor Gerry Coyle blamed the State for the situation, saying it would not allow them rectify their position by sitting a test.

He knew of one young person who could not go to work as she couldn't get a driving test and no one would give her a lift because of Covid.

He had tabled a motion asking for the driving test to be put on the Leaving Cert curriculum, with extra points awarded for it – not extra points on their licences