Phil Hogan
Question:243 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport when a driving test will be available for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5601/05]
View answerTuesday, 22 February 2005
Questions (247, 248)
Written answers
The applicant is on my Department's waiting list for a driving test. No documentary evidence has been submitted to my Department indicating that an early driving test is required.
Brendan Howlin
Question:244 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport when his Department officially notified driving school proprietors that a change in standards in relation to heavy goods vehicles registered after 1 January 2004 would come into force in February 2005; if this notice was adequate to enable owners to make the necessary adjustments in time to meet compliance by the due date; if additional time to comply can be afforded in order that tests already arranged will not have to be postponed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5639/05]
View answerEU Directive 2000/56/EC provides for changes in the type of vehicle that may be presented for a driving test. These changes only apply in respect of truck, bus, or car with trailer driving tests. The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, SI 705 of 2004, give effect to the provisions of the directive. Vehicles registered before 1 January 2004 are not subject to these requirements and may continue to be used for driving test purposes until 2013.
In February 2002, representative bodies of driving instructors were advised, by letter, of the directive. In the course of information sessions held at most test centres in both 2003 and 2004, regional supervisors from my Department advised driving instructors that changes were to be introduced to the representative vehicles that could be presented for driving tests. While the implementation date of 14 February 2005 for the change was decided in November 2004, I am satisfied that the correspondence and information sessions conducted during the previous three years provided adequate notice of the impending change.