Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising awareness of this issue. I was not aware of the change made in 2006. It was not up in flashing lights, but it has certainly had an impact. It has affected people, mainly of the younger generation, as the Senator said. It is worth examining the matter and the Senator has made a very compelling case for doing so.

I will provide some background on this matter. Prior to October 2016, as the Senator said, full category B licence holders, on passing a driving test, were permitted to drive category M moped vehicles. This practice ceased for new category B licence holders with the implementation of the third EU driving licence directive. As it stands officially, the Minister has no plans to change this policy, but the Senator has made a strong case for doing so, which I will feed back to the Minister and Department of Transport. It is an issue that can and should be considered.

The provisions of the third driving licence directive state that licences granted for any category shall be valid for vehicles in category AM. However, for driving licences issued on its territory, a member state may limit equivalences for category AM to categories A1, A2 and A, if that member state imposes a practical test as a condition for obtaining category AM. Prior to the directive, the category AM for mopeds, that is, a motorcycle with an engine of less than 50 cm³ capacity, was not recognised across the EU and may not have been issued as a category of licence in many countries. In Ireland, category AM could always be obtained by obtaining passing a driving test in the category B up to October 2006.

Before October 2006, the driver theory test was confined to cars and motorcycles. Since then, it has been split into two examinations covering motorcycles and cars separately. Initial basic training, IBT, was introduced for motorcyclists from 6 December 2010 for first-time learner permit holders. This is part of the national policy following the recommendations made and accepted by the Department of Transport and the then Minister prior to its introduction.

IBT recognises the vulnerability of motorcyclists as road users who need additional training to keep them safe on our roads. A driver must complete a programme of IBT with an improved IBT instructor before taking a motorcycle out on a road. The IBT programme is a minimum of 16 hours' duration and a certificate of satisfactory completion is issued to each learner after completing the training. There are situations where a learner can do what is known as a conversion module, which is a modified version of the IBT programme. This is available for people who have completed the IBT on a smaller motorcycle and then take out a separate permit for a larger motorcycle.

While motorcycles in the heavier category are clearly more powerful and capable of much higher speeds than category AM motorcycles, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, considers the risk associated with riding any type of motorcycle to be similar and the deaths and serious injuries to be disproportionate to those related to category B. The IBT modules that relate to motorcycles encompass all aspects relevant to higher powered machines and category AM. There is no doubt that the learnings from the IBT course are relevant and beneficial to riders of category AM motorcycles and contribute effectively to the goal of having a fuller learning experience and greater understanding of the risks and dangers associated with this vulnerable road group.

Although those who have category B licences have road experience which, undoubtedly, is of significant benefit to the driving of a category AM motorcycle, such drivers will not have had the learning specific to riding a two-wheel vehicle. The Minister for Transport is confident that the position that exists now is the correct one and that a person must be tested specifically on the moped before being granted a full licence.

The Senator, in raising this issue, accepts there needs to be some extra training, but there are difficulties in terms of costs and requirements. It is something that could be pursued in conjunction with the RSA and the Department of Transport. I will bring back to the Minister the points the Senator has raised, which are valid and feed into this argument. It may be a matter that can be looked at again.