Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2021
74. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons working here as of November 2020 under a transport management certificate of professional competence attained in the UK or Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9218/21]
View answer75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons who availed of the opportunity, prior to the new year, of swapping their transport management certificate of professional competence for an equivalent issued here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9219/21]
View answer76. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the options available to persons employed here who currently have a transport management certificate of professional competence issued in the UK or Northern Ireland to attain one that is valid within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9220/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, together.
In November 2020, my Department wrote to all those nominated as Transport Managers on Irish Road Transport Operator Licences who hold a UK-issued Transport Management Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), reminding them of the position that such UK-issued certificates would not be valid if working for an EU-based operator after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.
The communication further outlined that the European Commission had in November indicated that a corresponding Irish (EU) certificate could be issued before the end of the Brexit transition period. My Department then made arrangements for the resultant application process with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the body responsible in Ireland for the issuing of Transport Management CPCs and strongly urged affected persons to make contact with the CILT as soon as possible and in advance of the end of 2020.
According to my Department’s records, as at mid-November 2020 a total of 214 Transport Managers with a UK-issued CPC were designated as the active transport manager on Irish Road Transport Operator Licences, which includes road haulage and passenger operators.
According to figures received from the CILT, a total of 320 applications from holders of UK-issued CPCs for a corresponding Irish certificate were submitted to the CILT as at 31 December 2020. This figure includes some applicants who are not currently designated as Transport Manager on an Irish Road Transport Operator Licence but who, for example, may work in the haulage or passenger operator industry in Ireland and wished to ensure that they could obtain a corresponding Irish certificate should they in the future wish to work as the designated transport manager for an Irish operator.
As the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December, any UK transport management CPC holder who did not apply to the CILT by that date and who wish to obtain an Irish equivalent certificate will need to pass the Transport Management CPC examination administered by the CILT. The next examinations are scheduled for March 31 and June 30 and prospective candidates should contact CILT to register. They will not be required to undertake the 100-hour training course that is normally mandatory before taking the examination.
