asked the Minister for Local Government if he will outline the procedure for an applicant seeking a tractor driver's licence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Tractor Driving Licences.
29.
I take it that the Deputy's question relates to "tractors used in connection with agriculture", which are separately classified as Class B for the purpose of driver licensing. The procedure follows the same pattern as that applying to other applicants for driving licences.
In order to learn to drive, an applicant for a driving licence for such tractors has to obtain a provisional licence covering vehicles of Class B from the local licensing authority, that is, the County Council or County Borough Corporation in whose area he ordinarily resides. He then has to obtain a certificate of competency from my Department which is granted on passing the driving test in that class. When this has been granted he must apply to the local licensing authority, on the prescribed form and submit the certificate of competency. Where he wishes his driving licence to cover vehicles of Class C or Class D in addition to Class B, he must undergo a test in Class C or Class D and this (if passed) exempts him from a test in Class B.
A person who, in the past five years, has held a driving licence covering vehicles of Class B is not required to take out a provisional licence or pass the driving test; he can get a further driving licence by way of renewal.
I put down this question because of an unusual case which has come to my notice of a man who will not drive anything but a tractor; he walks everywhere else. According to the regulations when a person has his provisional licence, he is supposed to have a person who holds a licence sitting beside him. There is a prohibition in law against having such a person sitting beside the driver of a tractor. I am referring to a man who has only to drive a short distance to another farm but who has to drive on the public road to get there.
And never anybody on the tractor with him?
No. He is not allowed, by law, to have anybody with him.
He may, if he is covered by insurance. That insurance is not too difficult to get.
I am referring to the obligation to have a person who holds a licence sitting beside a man who has only a provisional licence. How does one overcome that situation in regard to this person who, although he knows how to drive a tractor for years, has not got a licence?
All he has to do is pass the test and get one.
Who is going to test him, and on what?
On his own machine, on the tractor, if only a Class B licence is required. If it is Classes C and D together with Class B, then it is on a Class C or D vehicle, but if it is solely Class B, it will be that vehicle and no other he will be entitled to drive. It is not a racing car on which he will be tested.
Where would the examiner sit? Will he be insured while he is clinging to the tractor? He sits nowhere, because the Minister does not know.
The Deputy would know.
I am asking the question. That is the purpose of questions, to get information.
I should imagine that it is not to be helpful or to glean information he is asking the questions.
I hope the Minister will accept that I put down the question to get an answer.
I am not talking about Deputy Clinton but about Deputy Ryan.
The Minister is annoyed because it has been found out his regulations are faulty.
The Deputy would not know one end of a tractor from the other.
The Minister might be surprised if he was on the road and I came along on one.
I certainly would.