Vol. 417 No. 5
274 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to introduce compulsory motor cycle courses in view of the inordinate number of motor cycle accidents which have taken place over the past 12 months, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have no proposals to introduce such courses nor are they required by the relevant EC Directives. The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1989 limit first time applicants for a driving licence for a motor cycle to a category A1 licence which covers motor cycles of 125 c.c. or less. To be eligible for a provisional licence for a more powerful machine, a person must have held a full category A1 licence for at least two years. The National Safety Council promote educational and awareness campaigns specifically targeting motor cyclists as a vulnerable group in terms of road safety.
