There has been a steep decline in the number of tractor learner driving permits issued to young people over the past 10 years, Irish Farmers Journal analysis of Road Safety Authority (RSA) licence data has shown.

By July of this year, 742 tractor learner permits were issued by the RSA due to COVID-19 restrictions. That was in contrast to the 2011 figure of over 3,400 for the year.

“I’ve seen less young people looking for tractor work in recent years. There’s a generation not interested, with their sights on better jobs,” Galway contractor Pairic Hynes told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“The most interested generation at the minute is the 25- to 30-year-olds. A year with a contractor is a great experience for a young person. Some of these fellas who join us at first wouldn’t know who’s two parishes over so it’s great for their geography.”

Road access

In 2019, the number of tractor learner permits awarded amounted to 2,366.

Of these, 2,322 were issued to 16-year-olds. There is no requirement for a learner to have a qualified accompanying driver for this category.

A spokesperson for the RSA said: “The majority of these provisional tractor licences are issued to young drivers, giving them the option to work for silage contractors in summer.

Twenty years ago, if you were driving a tractor behind a primary school every child would run over to the fence to have a look at what’s going on

“This learner permit can be attained at 16, offering the earliest possible access to the roads for these young drivers.”

A car learner permit can be attained at age 17 with automatic entitlement to a tractor learner permit.

Cork contractor James Goode said he also has seen a fall-off in interest among young people in taking up tractor driving positions.

“Twenty years ago, if you were driving a tractor behind a primary school every child would run over to the fence to have a look at what’s going on. Now they wouldn’t lift their head to you,” Goode said.

“I think everyone should have their licence by the time they leave school. If you’re able to drive you’ll never be idle, no matter what part of the world you find yourself in.”

Read more

Learner tractor drivers do not need to be accompanied – RSA

Tractor drivers asked to ‘cut back on speed’ and expect the unexpected