99 vw jetta shroud removal

I just installed a RS in a 99 Jetta and wanted to take the shroud off to get at the ignition wires, but I could get to the two screws behind the steering wheel. I could see them and I had a 16" long screwdriver that is a little bit flexible, but I still couldn't reach the screws since the top of the steering column was in the way of having a straight shot at the hole. I was able to do the install, but I have a 01 Jetta coming in next week and it has a transponder key so I am fairly certain I will need to get the shroud off that one. Any tips? Thanks a lot.

It's a little difficult, but I remember being able to do it with a hand-held Philips with a #1 tip. A #2 screwdriver is too thick to fit into that hole. Any kind of attachment for a drill would be too thick also.

I thought for sure the screwdriver I have would work, because it is a really long and thin flat blade that worked perfectly on the 2 screws on the underside of the shroud. The tip fits perfectly in the phillips head but I can't get the screwdriver close enough to the screw. Thanks for the reply, I might have to go buy something special for this.