Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason a full licence holder must sit a theory test to gain a licence to use a car and trailer when there is no reference to trailers on the theory test; if he will consider changing this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is an EU directive requirement that persons seeking to obtain a driving licence for the first time or to add a category to an existing licence must firstly have passed both a theoretical driving test and a practical driving test in respect of the relevant licence categories.

National regulations provide that, with effect from 11 June 2001, applicants for a first provisional licence must submit a theory test certificate in the licence category or categories being applied for. The only exception to this is where the applicant has already submitted a relevant theory test certificate to the licensing authority with another licence application. A theory test certificate in categories ABM and W entitles the holder to apply for a first provisional licence in categories A, A1, B, EB, M and W. It is not possible to exempt any individual from the regulatory requirement to pass the driver theory test as a prerequisite to obtaining a first provisional licence. The question bank for the theory test includes questions related to driving with trailers.