Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding road testing of tractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45278/17]

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 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.

Therefore the key testing criteria of the new requirements relates to the use of such tractors engaged in commercial haulage, where such a haulage journey exceeds 25kms. The RSA will engage with affected stakeholders to provide them with guidance in relation to the practical implementation of its requirements.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce NCT testing for tractors from 2018; the criteria in this regard; the details of the penalties as set out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45279/17]

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 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.

The RSA will be engaging with affected stakeholders to provide them with guidance in relation to the practical implementation of the new requirements prior to their introduction in May 2018.