Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Agricultural contractors are very concerned this week about changes to the category W driving licence that have been published on the NDLS website, which will have a significant impact on many agricultural contractors who do some non-agricultural works as part of their services, for instance, construction.

The National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, website states that a category W licence should only be used for agricultural and forestry work. Anyone driving commercially, carrying stones, blocks, sand or timber for construction work must have a category CE or a category C1E licence and undertake a certificate of professional competency, CPC, training course to drive professionally. Farm Contractors Ireland has contacted me. I have written to the RSA requesting urgent clarification on this issue, as I understand contractors were put off a site last week. We are trying to build houses and have construction but one arm of the State is bringing in more regulations. The NDLS and the RSA should make sure we get through driving test applications more quickly. There is no tester for driving tests in Clonmel this week. It is a shambles.

See this speech in context