The Department for Infrastructure has made a Statutory Order entitled "The Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021" (S.R. 2021 No. 137), which comes into operation on 31st May 2021.

The Regulations amend Northern Ireland legislation in order to extend the period of time that a person wishing to become an approved driving or motorcycle instructor has to apply for instructional ability and fitness test after passing the driving theory test.

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”) require that a person wishing to be registered as an approved driving instructor or motorcycle instructor must apply for the instructional ability and fitness test within two years after passing the driving theory test and having passed the driving ability and fitness test or the riding ability and fitness test, as the case may be.

As a result of the suspension of practical testing due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency these Regulations amend the 2010 Regulations in order to allow a person to apply for the instructional ability and fitness test within three years after passing the theory test and having passed the driving ability and fitness test or the riding ability and fitness test, as the case may be, where the two year period would have expired or would expire between 31st May 2020 and 31st August 2021.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.