The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called on the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to clarify the rules regarding driving licence requirements for the transport of materials for construction work.
Controversy erupted in recent days when the RSA published the following on their website:
“A Category W in Ireland should only be used for agricultural or forestry work, anyone driving commercially e.g., carrying stone/blocks, they must have a Category CE or C1E and also undertake CPC training to drive professionally.”
That notice has now been removed from the website and the RSA subsequently said the matter is under review.
The IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs chair, Teresa Roche said that many farmers also have agricultural contracting businesses.
At quiet times of the year, she said that some of these may work on construction projects.
A requirement for the drivers of these vehicles to gain a CE or C1E licence would “add significant cost” for these contractors, the IFA has said.
As a result of what the IFA has called “the confusion” that has been caused by placing the new regulation on the RSA website, and subsequently withdrawing it, IFA president Francie Gorman said the association will be seeking an urgent meeting with the RSA.
FCI on driving licence change
Meanwhile, in relation to the update by the RSA, the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has said that the new wording – which is claims is a “reversal” of the previous position – now states that the authority will “review the position and requirements of the holders of category W with the Department of Transport”.
Earlier this week, the FCI had raised concerns that changed wording on rules for the W category of licence – which covers work vehicles other than land tractors – would have required such vehicles to be used “only for agricultural or forestry work”.
The FCI, echoed the sentiment expressed by the IFA and had said that such changes would affect many agricultural contractors who do some non-agricultural work as part of their services.
The association even said that it was aware that some contractors were requested to leave work sites this week as they could not produce a licence that would be valid under that changed wording.