Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Road Safety Authority, RSA, and my Department have no plans to change the rules in relation to driver licensing for tractors. The current licence category, W, will continue to be the licence category that covers work vehicles and land tractors.

Agricultural vehicles are any power-driven vehicles running on wheels or tracks, having at least two axles, the principal function of which lies in their tractive power, which are specially designed to pull, push, carry or operate certain tools, machines or trailers used in connection with agricultural or forestry operations, and the use of which for carrying persons or goods by road, or drawing on the road, vehicles used for the carriage of persons or goods is only a secondary function.

The definition of work vehicle is a vehicle, other than a land tractor, which has a maximum design speed not exceeding 40 km/h and which is constructed primarily for any work other than the conveyance by road of goods or burdens of any other description. Road traffic laws and the certificate of professional competence, or CPC, requirements apply only when vehicles are used on public roads, not on construction sites.

My Department and the RSA are aware that the European Union’s proposed fourth driving licence directive, which may be adopted by the end of 2024, could provide a revised definition of tractors. Once the new driving licence directive has been published, my Department and the RSA will consult with stakeholders in advance of the introduction of any required changes to relevant national legislation. However, until the new driving licence directive is approved and enacted, the existing approach to tractor licensing will continue to be applied. The RSA website has been updated to reflect this.

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