Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if motorcyclists renewing their full licences are required to provide an initial basic training certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50514/17]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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565. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if motorcyclists that hold licences and are progressed to licences for larger bikes are required to do the training course and provide an initial basic training certificate as they move through each stage to Class A full licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50515/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 565 together.

Initial Basic Training (IBT) is a requirement of the motorcycle learner process, and was introduced in 2011 as part of the Graduated Driver Licensing system. Under the Road Traffic (Courses of Instruction) (Motorcycles) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 681 of 2011), which provide for IBT, anyone acquiring a learner permit for a motorcycle must first complete IBT before driving a motorcycle in a public place, except on occasions where they are doing so as part of an IBT training course.

IBT is a requirement under the regulations for anyone acquiring a first learner permit in any of the motorcycle categories after the commencement of the regulations.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, there is no requirement to undertake IBT for renewal of a licence.

When a person who already holds a licence in one of the motorcycle categories becomes a learner in one of the other categories, they are required to take the IBT course for that category. The rationale for this is that they are now a learner in a different class of machine which requires different handling.