Driver Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (188)

Denis Naughten

Question:

188. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if online CPC courses will be offered for heavy goods vehicle drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62998/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

At the current time, the Road Safety Authority does not facilitate on-line driver CPC training. EU Directive 2003/59/EC, which introduced driver CPC, was updated in 2018 (EU Directive 645 of 2018). While the amended Directive allows for the use of ICT tools such as e-learning and blended learning as part of CPC training, a substantial amount of the training is required to be completed in an approved driver CPC training centre.

The Authority believes that delivering part of the training online is the way forward and it intends to consult with the industry, including driver CPC training organisations, to establish how training can be improved within the scope of the EU legislation. It is hoped that this review will start in the New Year.