Buses will be allowed to use the hard shoulder of major approach roads to Dublin under a pilot project aimed at relieving chronic traffic congestion.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, yesterday said he would consider allowing other vehicles to use the hard shoulder depending on how successful the project is.
A spokesman for the AA, Mr Conor Faughnan, said the decision was a "desperate measure" and that the proposals would put the safety of motorists who break down in serious jeopardy.
Mr Brennan told an Oireachtas committee meeting that this would be addressed by modifying roads to include a special inset or safety bay area for cars which would normally have used the hard shoulder to pull over.
The move is aimed primarily at Bus Éireann and private bus operators who run daily services to and from the rest of the country.
It is a similar measure to one announced by Britain's Minister for Transport, Mr Alistair Darling, under which the hard shoulders on major motorways are to be opened up to other traffic.
Mr Brennan told the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, which is investigating ways of bringing down insurance costs, that uninsured drivers will be liable to have their cars seized.
As reported in The Irish Times yesterday, the measure will target an estimated 80,000 uninsured vehicles on Irish roads, which are estimated to cost up to €90 million annually in claims.
Mr Brennan said new legislation would mean that learner drivers would have to undergo training with an approved driving school before sitting a test for a full licence.
It is expected that drivers will be asked to use the waiting period between applying for a test and sitting it to undergo training courses.
Plans are underway to cut the 16-week waiting list for provisional licence holders seeking to sit a driving test.
Mr Brennan said he was in discussion with the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, over a bonus scheme which would see existing driving instructors test more trainee drivers.
At present around 200,000 tests are sat every year and this would increase to 240,000 under the new proposals.
A new Driver Testing Agency Bill, to be published later this year, will also ensure driving instructors are appropriately trained and provide for driving tests to be out-sourced to State-approved driving centres.
