Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Transport the action that can be taken to assist following the new regulations introduced regarding the gear boxes in lorries being used by a driving school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3381/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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EU Directive 2000/56/EC provides for changes in the type of vehicle that may be presented for test. These changes only apply in respect of truck, bus or car with trailer tests. The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, SI 705 of 2004, give effect to the provisions of the directive.

These regulations require that a vehicle used for a driving test in licence category C, trucks, which was registered on or after 1 January 2004, must have passenger accommodation for not more than eight persons, a gross vehicle weight of at least 12,000 kg., a length of at least 8 m, a width of at least 2.4 m, and be capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must also be fitted with anti-lock brakes, be equipped with a gearbox having at least eight forward gears, and recording equipment, tachograph. The cargo compartment must also consist of a closed box body, which is at least as wide and as high as the cab. Vehicles registered before 1 January 2004 are not subject to these requirements and may be used for driving test purposes until 2013.

In February 2002, representative bodies of driving instructors were advised, by letter, of the directive. In the course of information sessions held at most test centres in both 2003 and 2004, regional supervisors from my Department advised driving instructors that changes were to be introduced to the representative vehicles that could be presented for driving tests. I am not aware of any situation where a supervisor offered advice on the purchase of a vehicle by a driving instructor.