Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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268. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether requiring all driver testing vehicles to require ABS brakes is potentially dangerous and, given that many vehicles on the road do not have ABS brakes, new drivers will therefore not have experience of driving such vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is not the case that all vehicles used in driving tests must have anti-lock brakes (ABS). However vehicles used in tests for categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE must have ABS. The requirements for vehicles to be used in driving tests are set at EU rather than national level, under section 5.2 of Annex II to Directive 2006/126/EC, as amended by Directive 2012/36/EU.  The EU standards are minima.  Member States may choose more stringent criteria, but not less stringent criteria.  In all of the categories mentioned above, the EU legislation explicitly requires that the vehicle used in the test have ABS.  Member States do not therefore have the option to choose otherwise.