Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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346. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44982/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers, requires, from 20 May 2018, the mandatory periodic testing of tractors with a maximum design speed exceeding 40 km/h (category T5), and which are used mainly on the public road for commercial road haulage purposes.  There is, however, no requirement on Member States to introduce compulsory testing for T5 tractors when being used for agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery purposes mainly on the terrain where such activity takes place. The RSA will engage with affected stakeholders to provide them with guidance in relation to the practical implementation of its requirements.

The penalties for failure to have a certificate of roadworthiness when using a commercial vehicle on the public road are set out in the RSA (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, and are enforced by An Garda Síochána. On conviction in Court a person is currently liable to 5 penalty points, a Class A fine (not exceeding €5,000) and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months. It is expected that T5 tractors required to be tested under the Directive will be considered as commercial vehicles, and therefore similar penalties will apply.