Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the need for bus and lorry drivers to sit a CPC course on a yearly basis and to pay for the courses themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52544/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A holder of a certificate of professional competence (CPC) is required by EU and national law to undertake periodic training to maintain their qualification. Article 7 of Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003, on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, states that periodic training shall consist of training to enable holders of a CPC to update the knowledge which is essential for their work, with specific emphasis on road safety, health and safety at work and the reduction of the environmental impact of driving.

The EU Directive was transposed into national law by the European Communities (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (SI 359 of 2008), as amended. Drivers are required to complete a periodic retaining course of at least 35 hours every 5 years, to be taken in 7-hour tranches per year for each 5-year period.

As with any driver training (such as driving lessons) and many other professional qualifications, it is the responsibility of the CPC holder to provide for and maintain their qualification if they wish to continue their professional driving career.