Vol. 412 No. 5
212 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he is prepared to extend the deadline for applications for certificates of competence for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been in the road haulage business from 1975, and who is unable to apply for a certificate of competence.
I am informed by my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy applied for a certificate of competence in respect of passenger operations but not in respect of road haulage operations.
The European Communities (Road Passenger Transport) Regulations, 1991, which came into operation on 21 March 1991 provided, by way of an exemption from the standard competence requirements, for the granting of a certificate of competence in road passenger transport to any person who, within 21 days after the date on which the regulations came into force, satisfied the Minister that, before 1 January 1975, he either held a large public service vehicle licence or effectively and continuously managed a road passenger transport business. Appropriate notice of this provision was promulgated through the daily newspapers.
An application for a certificate of competence based on this provision was received from the person in question on 24 May 1991. However, as this was after the deadline of 11 April 1991, the application could not be considered. The applicant in this case has been made aware by the Department of the standard competence requirements and of the options available to him for meeting these requirements.
I am satisfied that an extension of the deadline is not warranted.
