Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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225. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to prioritise driver CPC testing for essential workers given the acute shortage of haulage drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37268/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under EU law, professional bus and truck drivers require a valid driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) card when driving for a living. A number of extensions have been provided for drivers with expired CPC cards during the Covid-19 pandemic. Drivers with CPC cards that expired between 1 February and 31 August 2020 were originally granted an extension of 7 months. This was extended for an additional 6 months or until 1 July 2021, whichever was the later. Drivers with a CPC card that expired between 1 September 2020 and 30 June 2021 were granted an extension of 10 months. 

In addition, driver CPC training has been classified as an essential service during Covid restrictions and I am advised that the Road Safety Authority is not aware of any issues with the supply of training. The majority of CPC training organisations are running and there courses are taking place throughout the country.