Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2004
181 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Transport his proposals in regard to a W class licence being sufficient to drive off road dumper vehicles which means that a 16 year old, having passed a theory test, can drive these vehicles on a provisional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17985/04]
View answerUnder the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1999 to 2001, a category W driving licence gives entitlement to drive work vehicles and land tractors.
A work vehicle is defined in the regulations as a vehicle, other than a land tractor, which has a maximum design speed not exceeding 40 kilometres per hour and which is constructed primarily for any work other than the conveyance by road of goods or burden of any other description.
A dumper vehicle would be unlikely, because of the limit on kilometres per hour, to come within the scope of a category W vehicle and would instead be covered by licence category C. This gives entitlement to drive vehicles having a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kg, and having passenger accommodation for not more than eight persons. The minimum age at which application can be made for such a licence is 18 years.
