Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013
648. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has held a licence since 1989 is entitled to have a trailer towing E category added to their B licence in view of the fact that they are a full-time farmer. [41042/13]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases. I can however explain the general policy considerations at issue.
Prior to 1989, a person holding a licence to drive a car was entitled to tow trailers. A change to regulations in that year introduced new categories of licence, including the categories B and BE. Category B was for a car alone or with a trailer up to 750 kg design gross vehicle weight, and BE for a car with a trailer of up to 3,500 kg design gross vehicle weight.
A driver who held a car licence in 1989 could retain the entitlement to tow trailers by ticking boxes for both categories at their next renewal date. It appears that some drivers, unwittingly, did not apply to have the trailer category added to their licences at renewal time, and as a result lost their entitlement to tow trailers. I have received a number of representations from different parties on this subject.
I have agreed with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), that category BE will be added to the licence of those drivers who can provide proof that they held this entitlement prior to 1989. I understand that the proof required can be obtained from the Motor Tax Office that issued the licence. Where proof is not available, the RSA will accept a sworn affidavit from the licence-holder indicating that he/she held a Class C licence prior to 1989. The offer to add the trailer category will be available for a limited period to be determined by the RSA.
