The price of a course of driving lessons has increased by as much as €60 in parts of the country.
Some driving schools say a jump in fuel costs is increasing their overheads.
In one case, the cost of 12 lessons has gone from €425 to €577.
Motoring journalist Ger Herbert told Pat Kenny this also comes down to supply and demand.
"When you consider a student is one hour, but an instructor could be on the road for 30 hours a week, it is all going to add up.
"There also seems to be a huge demand for lessons at the moment, and not an awful lot of supply.
"So I assume that's a factor in the cost rising as well".
She says it really depends on where you live.
"It seems to vary considerably around the country - again I assume it's supply and demand.
"If you don't have public transport where you're living, so in rural areas I imagine it's probably more expensive than it is in urban areas.
"That would appear to be one of the issues there - but there is considerable difference and considerable hikes in some parts of the country".
And Ger says the cost adds up even before lessons start.
A theory test costs €45, then it's another €20 for an official eyesight report and finally €35 for the learner permit.
"So a lot of money before you even land out for the 12 lessons - so it's a costly business learning to drive".
But she believes these costs won't dampen the push for lessons.
"I would say we're not going to see any decrease in demand.
"If you consider a lot of people - if they're looking at renting costs at the moment versus, maybe, getting a car and living at home - it probably is a more attractive option to stay at home, even with those high costs of learning to drive than having to pay the high cost of rent".
