Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Trainee Licence) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 and shall come into operation on 31^stMay 2021.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Trainee Licence) Regulations

2.  In the Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Trainee Licence) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010( 4), in regulation 4 (trainee licence), after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(f), an applicant for a trainee licence may make the application within three years after passing the theory test where the two year period would otherwise have expired or would otherwise expire between 31 ^st May 2020 and 31 ^st August 2021. ”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Trainee Licence) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”) in order to extend, in certain circumstances, the length of time that an applicant for a trainee licence has to apply for that licence after passing the driving instructor theory test given the suspension of practical driver testing due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.

Regulation 4(1)(f) of the 2010 Regulations provides that an applicant for a trainee licence must apply for that licence within two years after passing the theory test. These regulations amend regulation 4 in order to allow applicants to apply for the licence within three years after passing the theory test where the two year period would have expired or would expire between 31^stMay 2020 and 31^stAugust 2021.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Safe and Accessible Travel Division, Department for Infrastructure, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast BT2 8GB or online alongside this Regulation athttp//www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr