Dublin driving schools have been forced to increase the price of lessons due to rising fuel costs.
One school's price for twelve lessons has increased from €425 to €577, and one instructor says that students are aware that the rising cost of petrol and diesel is forcing some schools to increase their fees. Ladybird Driving School, which is based in Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire, says it adds a €2 to €3 fuel surcharge to the price of individual lessons.
Managing director of Ladybird Kevin Horgan said they make the costs very clear when learner drivers are looking to book lessons. He told 98fm: "The surcharge would be explained in the beginning that look, the price is for six lessons or twelve lessons, plus a little surcharge for fuel, and they are okay with that.
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"We'd have that information for them when they call up so that there's no surprises for them. It's an expensive business to be in at the moment, with inflation going up all the time."
Speaking to Dublin Live, one learner driver said that it has been a "struggle" to book lessons at an affordable price in recent weeks. Thomas, from Ballyfermot, said that he has tried three different schools, with all of them giving a quote of over €500 for lessons.
He said: "It's crazy at the moment to see the cost of twelve lessons go up by €60. It might not seem a lot to the schools, but it's a bit of a struggle to be honest for students like myself.
"I've tried three different schools, they all told me the same thing. Diesel and petrol has gone up due to the inflation and the rising cost of living, so the lessons have gone up, too. It's very unfair."
As it stands at the moment, €550 to €600 would be the going rate for twelve hours of driving lessons from a good driving school. A theory test costs €45, then it's another €20 for an official eyesight report, and finally €35 for the learner permit.
Dublin Live has contacted several driving schools in Dublin to compare prices for twelve mandatory lessons. With InGear, booking the lessons will cost you €470, while Pass My Test offers them for €450. RSA School of Motoring lessons cost €577, and LadyBird offers the twelve lessons for €500.
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