491. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport in relation to Directive (EU) 2020/61 and the subsequent S.I. No. 467/2013 - Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2013, if he is aware of a cohort of drivers who cannot obtain a withdrawal of Restriction 78 from their licence despite qualification and proven competency in driving heavy vehicles larger than buses; if this is the correct interpretation of the Directive; the rationale for same; if a mechanism is in place or being considered for this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56928/26]

As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I can advise that the general provisions relating to higher category driving licences and code 78. A change to testing of group 2 (bus and truck) drivers came into effect in 2013, which added some elements to the driving test. One change was the demonstration of driving to ensure safety and to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during acceleration, deceleration, uphill and downhill driving, when necessary, by selecting gears manually.

SI 489 of 2020 provides that if an applicant completes their D category driving test in a vehicle with automatic transmission, they will be issued with a licence for driving automatic transmission vehicles only, unless they already hold a licence for driving manual transmission vehicles in any of the categories B, BE, C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E, having completed their test since 1 November 2013. This regulation is based on Commission Directive 2020/612 of 4 May 2020.

The provision is confined to applicants who completed their test since 1 November 2013. As the test was revised on this date, tests completed before then are not within the scope of the Regulations.