Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 22nd January, 2019.

I, Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 42 (inserted by section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 (No. 23 of 2006)) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24 of 1961) and the National Roads and Road Traffic (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 ( S.I. No. 298 of 2002 ) (as adapted by the Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 141 of 2011 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Courses of Instruction) (Learner Permit Holders) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 21 January 2019.

2. The Road Traffic (Courses of Instruction) (Learner Permit Holders) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 173 of 2011 ) are amended -

(a) in Regulation 3(3), by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers”:

“ ‘Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers’ means a course of instruction within the meaning of Regulation 4(1);”,

(b) in Regulation 4 -

(i) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (1):

“(1) For the purposes of Regulation 3, a person shall undergo a course of instruction (in these Regulations referred to as “Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers”) consisting of training in procedures and processes in one or more of the 12 lessons set out in the Schedule in accordance with this Regulation.”.

(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (2):

“(2) Subject to paragraph (3B), for the purposes of Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers a person referred to in Regulation 3(1) shall complete each of the 12 lessons set out in the Schedule in accordance with paragraph (3).”.

(iii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (3):

“(3) (a) Subject to paragraph (3B), a person who undergoes Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers shall take lesson 1 first and thereafter shall take lessons 2 to 8 and lessons 9 to 12.

(b) Lessons 9 to 12 may not be taken until lessons 2 to 8 have been completed.

(c) Lessons 2 to 8 and lessons 9 to 12 are not required to be taken in sequence.”,

and

(c) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (3A):

“(3B) In the case of a person referred to in Regulation 3(1) where -

(a) the licensing authority is satisfied that the person has for a period of not less than 2 years been, and continues to be, the holder of a valid driving licence or permit permitting that person to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle equivalent to category B, not being a licence or permit issued to that person to enable him or her to learn or provisionally to drive such a vehicle, issued by the competent authority of a state other than the State,

and

(b) the driving licence or permit referred to in subparagraph (a) which is held by the person is not recognised pursuant to an order made under section 23A of the Road Traffic Act 1961 for the purposes of exchange of that licence or permit for a driving licence,

the person shall not be required for the purposes of Essential Driver Training for Car Drivers to take any of lessons 2, 3, 4, 8, 11 or 12 of the lessons set out in the Schedule.”.

3. The Road Traffic (Courses of Instruction) (Learner Permit Holders) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 450 of 2018) are revoked.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

17 January 2019

SHANE ROSS

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Regulations relating to Essential Driver Training (EDT) to be taken by learner car drivers, in order to allow learner drivers who hold a full driving licence from another jurisdiction which is not exchangeable for an Irish driving licence to undergo 6 rather than 12 EDT lessons before applying for a driving test.