Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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133. 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, in that many vehicles on the road do not have ABS brakes and new drivers will therefore not have experience driving such vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23577/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I replied to this same Question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. 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 vehicles used in the test have ABS.  Member States do not therefore have the option to choose otherwise.

Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way Council Directive 2012/36/EU affects the requirements of category C, C1 and D testing vehicles; if the current requirements are in excess of those requirements; when it is anticipated that such standards will be introduced; the status of requirements under Directive 2006/126/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23578/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I replied to an identical question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. Directive 126 of 2006 is the EU driver licensing directive.  Among other aspects of driver licensing, this Directive sets out minimum requirements to be met by vehicles used in driving tests.  These are described in Annex II, section 5.2 of the directive.  Directive 36 of 2012 made a number of changes to the vehicle requirements for tests relating to categories A1, A2, A, C and CE.  Directive 36 does not change the vehicle standards for tests in relation to categories C1 or D.  

Ireland is compliant with the requirements of Annex II, section 5.2 of Directive 126 of 2006, as amended.  The current requirements in this regard are to be found in Schedule 5 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as substituted by Schedule 2 the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 467 of 2013). All of these documents are available in the public domain.