Written answers

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Test

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding persons who obtained their driving licence for buses and lorries since 2013 and who are required to carry out a CPC course each year to renew their licence but in advance of this are required to do a theory test and do the procedures regarding theory tests apply to persons who had licences issued in earlier times that do not require the theory test; if there is a provision for a person to do a course without a theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44394/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) was introduced on the 10 September 2008 for professional bus drivers and on the 10 September 2009 for professional truck drivers.  EU Directive 2003/59/EC introduced Driver CPC and it was transposed into Irish law through Statutory Instrument No. 389 of 2008.

Drivers obtaining a bus/truck licence after the relevant dates who wish to drive professionally are required to complete an initial qualification process consisting of four exams in order to obtain a bus/truck Driver CPC qualification.After obtaining their initial qualification, drivers are required to complete periodic training consisting of one day (7 hours) of classroom-based Driver CPC periodic training per year (a total of 35 hours every five years)  in order to maintain their Driver CPC qualification on an ongoing basis  (or 42 hours every five years if maintaining both bus and truck categories).

Drivers with the relevant licence category prior to the commencement dates (bus - Sept 2008; truck - Sept 2009) were granted ‘acquired rights’ and they do not have to complete any exams; however, they are required to complete periodic training (one day per year in five-year cycles as above) in order to maintain their Driver CPC qualification on an ongoing basis.

As per regulation 11 of Statutory Instrument No. 359 of 2008, ‘a person is not required to obtain an initial CPC if he or she holds either a driving licence or a recognised driving licence to drive a vehicle of (a) category D, DE, D1 or D1E where the licence was issued prior to 10 September 2008, and (b) category C, CE, C1 or C1E where the licence was issued prior to 10 September 2009’.

Any driver who obtained category D/D1 on their licence after 10 September 2008 or category C/C1 on their licence after 10thSeptember 2009 does not have acquired rights to Driver CPC and they must firstly obtain their ‘Initial’ Drivers CPC qualification.  In order to do that they must complete the qualifying examinations process which includes their driving test:

- Multiple choice theory testwhich covers a core test with a module relevant to either bus or truck depending on which they are taking.  If a driver wishes to obtain bus and truck, this theory test can accommodate both a bus and truck test module in the one sitting (additional time will be allocated where a driver is taking both categories). 

- Case study theory test– bus or truck.  If a driver wishes to obtain both bus and truck categories, they will have to apply for and complete two separate case study tests. 

- Bus/Truck driving test.

- CPC practical test– 30-minute test which requires a relevant category vehicle.  If a driver wishes to obtain both bus and truck categories, they are required to complete a separate practical test in respect of each category.

Drivers can complete tests 3 & 4 in the one test slot. 

A driver who wishes to obtain a bus/truck licence category but who does not wish to drive professionally is required to complete stage 1 & 3 above (bus/truck theory test and the bus/truck driving test) in order to obtain their bus/truck licence category.If at a later stage s/he wishes to drive professionally they can complete the remaining two steps and obtain their Driver CPC qualification.  Please note if the driver has completed stage 1 (theory test) before September 2014 they will be required to complete this step again.

A driver who obtained their C or D category on their licence after 2008 (bus) or 2009 (truck) but who did not complete the relevant exams and did not obtain their initial CPC qualification, should not completeDriver CPC periodic training as they have no CPC qualification to maintain.  Any training completed by a driver with no CPC qualification is null and void.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application for a driving test for a person (details supplied) who requires a licence for work. [44405/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driving Test. 

Individual appointments are an operational matter for the RSA and I do not have any role in this process. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

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