Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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276. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to paragraph 8 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the British and Irish Governments concerning the Common Travel Area and associated reciprocal rights and privileges of May 2019, if he intends to facilitate mutual recognition of drivers' certificates of professional competence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15059/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) process operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the criteria for professional driving with which all Member States must comply. A CPC must be held to drive heavy duty vehicles professionally.

The requirements for obtaining a CPC are set out in European Union Directive 2022/2561, on the initial qualifications and periodic training of drivers of vehicles carrying goods or passengers. The Directive was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (SI 359 of 2008), as amended.

UK drivers who relocate to live in Ireland must exchange their UK driving licence for an Irish licence. I am advised by the RSA that, as Ireland can no longer recognise the UK CPC card, UK heavy duty vehicle drivers resident in Ireland are required to complete five days of training in Ireland (or six if maintaining both bus and truck categories) to obtain an Irish CPC card.

UK drivers who continue to live in the UK but work for an undertaking established in Ireland can keep their UK licence. However, their UK CPC card can no longer be recognised. The drivers must provide documentation from their employer regarding their situation (living in UK, working in Ireland). They are required to complete CPC training, as above, to obtain their Irish CPC card.