Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 12th May, 2015.

I, PASCHAL DONOHOE, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), for the purpose of giving further effect to Article 7 of Directive No. 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006¹ , hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Union (Licensing of Drivers) (Validity of Licences) Regulations 2015.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 31 May 2015.

2. Regulation 10 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. No. 537 of 2006 ) is amended by substituting for paragraphs (2) and (3) (inserted by Regulation 3(f) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 6 of 2013 )) the following:

"(2) A driving licence shall, subject to paragraph (3), be granted-

(a) in the case of an applicant who is less than 60 years of age on the commencement day, for a licence to drive vehicles of category A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE or W, for the period of 10 years,

(b) in the case of an applicant who is less than 60 years of age on the commencement day, for a licence to drive vehicles of category C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E, for the period of 5 years,

(c) where the application is for a licence to drive vehicles of category A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE or W, the applicant is, on the commencement day-

(i) 60years of age or more but less than 67 years of age, for the period beginning on the commencement day and ending on the day before the applicant attains the age of 70 years, or

(ii) 67years of age or more, for the period of 3 years plus the unexpired period of a licence previously granted to the applicant,

and

(d) where an application is for a licence to drive vehicles of category C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E, the applicant is, on the commencement day-

(i) 65years of age or more but less than 67 years of age, for the period beginning on the commencement day and ending on the day before the applicant attains the age of 70 years, or

(ii) more than 67 years of age, for the period of 3 years plus the unexpired period of a licence previously granted to the applicant.

(3) A driving licence may be granted for a period of 1 year or 3 years, together with the unexpired period of a licence previously granted to the applicant, where the application for the licence is required under Regulation 41 to be accompanied by a medical report and the medical report indicates that the applicant appears to require medical review.".

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

6 May 2015.

PASCHAL DONOHOE,

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 period of validity of driving licences in certain categories in line with EU requirements.

1 OJ No. L 403, 30.12.2006, p.18