asked the Minister for Local Government if he will accept the driving of a three-ton unladen truck as sufficient to qualify a driver for the driving test, as a four-ton unladen truck may not be easily obtainable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Truck Driving Test.
8.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the case of an applicant for a class D driving test.
A person who applies to undergo a driving test is required to provide a vehicle sufficiently representative of the class in which he wishes to be tested. The aim of this requirement is to ensure equality of test in that particular class.
Class D vehicles include all commercial road vehicles of more than two tons unladen weight, including large articulated vehicles. As about 60 per cent of vehicles in this class are over four tons unladen weight, it has been the normal practice to require an applicant for a class D test to provide a vehicle of at least this weight.
I am aware that some applicants for class D tests have difficulties in obtaining a suitable vehicle for their test and I am at present reviewing the requirement that the vehicle provided must be at least four tons unladen weight.
Would the Minister consider reducing the weight to a three-ton truck in that case?
I personally believe that it would not do any harm to reduce it to a three-ton and I am having that aspect looked at.