Roundabout School of Motoring · Kilkenny
We take at most fourteen people per group. Theory classes run for eight weeks, and you plan your lessons yourself in the booking calendar. Enrolment is open right up to the day of the first class.
Next course start
1 Sep 2026Tuesday at 17:00
The first class is on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 17:00 in the classroom at 26 Wheelwright Lane. After that, classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 17:00 — 18:45.
There are 4 of 14 places left. You can enrol up to the day of the first class, while places last.
01 — Courses
We run six types of training. Category B groups take at most fourteen people, motorcycle groups twelve.
B
Vehicles up to 3,500 kg
€890full course price
The standard course for vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Once you pass, you can drive both manual and automatic cars with no restriction.
B / AT
No gear changes
€940full course price
The same scope as the manual course, with all your lessons in an automatic car.
A1 / A2 / A
125 and 650 cm³
€780full course price
Motorcycle training by age and engine power, including Initial Basic Training (IBT). Riding lessons run from March to November.
BE
Licence extension
€260full course price
Extends category B to trailers over 750 kg. You need a full category B licence.
€28/h
For licence holders
€28per 45-minute lesson
For drivers who haven't driven for a while or want to practise parking and town driving.
DI
Required training
€180full course price
For drivers who have been required to complete driver improvement training — for example by their employer or insurer.
02 — Category B course price
The price is final for the standard course. You only pay extra if you book additional lessons or retake a test.
Category B course — manual
€890
€150 deposit on enrolment, the rest in three interest-free instalments of €246.67.
Included in the price
Extras not included in the price
Paid elsewhere, not to us
€40 off for full-time students under 26. Pay the full amount when you enrol and we take off another €20.
03 — Course content
The standard category B course is 41 hours of practical training split into twenty lessons. Below you can see what each stage covers.
| Stage | What you practise | Lessons | Hours | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training ground | Moving off, changing gear, reversing, bay and parallel parking, turning | 3 | 6 | Off-road area |
| Town and junctions | Right of way, roundabouts, one-way streets, stopping and parking | 10 | 20 | Kilkenny |
| Rural roads | Overtaking, turning, driving in traffic, hills | 4 | 8 | County Kilkenny |
| National roads | Joining and leaving, higher speeds, following distances | 2 | 4 | N10 |
| Test routes | A drive with a different instructor on test routes, with a review of mistakes | 1 | 3 | Kilkenny area |
| Total | 20 | 41 | — | |
How lessons are scheduled
Theory content
Theory runs over sixteen sessions of two class units each. If you miss one, you can catch up in any other group that's running.
04 — How the course works
At two lessons a week the course takes about ten weeks; at one a week, about four months. You can sit the driving test once you've held your learner permit for six months.
Fill in the application on this website or at the office. Bring photo ID and an eyesight report for your learner permit. A €150 deposit confirms your place.
32 hours over sixteen sessions of two class units each. The evening and daytime groups meet twice a week, the weekend group on Saturdays. You can catch up on a missed class in another group. Then you sit the Driver Theory Test and apply for your learner permit.
Your first 6 hours are on an off-road area: moving off, changing gear, reversing, parallel and bay parking, and the turnabout.
35 hours in town, on rural roads and on national roads, covering all 12 EDT lessons. You book times in the calendar, usually two lessons a week.
You do a mock driving test on a test route with a different instructor. If something isn't right, we arrange extra lessons before your test date.
We help you apply for the driving test with the RSA and make sure you're ready for the date. You sit the test in our car, the one you learned in.
05 — Start dates
You can sign up right up to the day of the first class, as long as the group has places left. You can also change the date in your application later.
| Start | Course type | Classes | Categories | Places left | Sign-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 2026 | Evening | Tue, Thu 17:00 — 18:45 | B, B automatic | 4 of 14 | |
| 14 Sep 2026 | Daytime | Mon, Wed 9:00 — 10:45 | B | 7 of 14 | |
| 26 Sep 2026 | Weekend | Sat 9:00 — 12:15 | B | 2 of 14 | |
| 6 Oct 2026 | Evening | Tue, Thu 17:00 — 18:45 | B, B automatic, BE | 9 of 14 | |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Evening | Tue, Thu 17:00 — 18:45 | A1, A2, A | 6 of 12 | |
| 2 Nov 2026 | Daytime | Mon, Wed 9:00 — 10:45 | B | 11 of 14 | |
| 14 Nov 2026 | Weekend | Sat 9:00 — 12:15 | B, B automatic | 8 of 14 | |
| 1 Dec 2026 | Evening | Tue, Thu 17:00 — 18:45 | B, BE | 13 of 14 |
Driver improvement courses and refresher lessons aren't tied to a group start — we arrange them within three working days of your application.
06 — Tests
There are two tests: the theory test before your learner permit and the driving test at the end. We help you book both, and you sit the driving test in the car you learned in.
A computer test on the Rules of the Road, road signs and right-of-way situations. You get the result as soon as you finish.
Driving in town and on rural roads following the tester's directions. It includes stopping and parking, a turnabout and reversing around a corner.
You get the result on the day, along with your Certificate of Competency. Then you apply for your full licence through the NDLS — we'll print the steps for you, with the address and opening hours.
What to bring to the test
The day before the test we call you to remind you of the time and meeting place.
If you don't pass
07 — Our cars
All our training cars have dual controls and extra mirrors. They're serviced every 10,000 km.
4 ×
Small car — manual
The backbone of the course. It's 3.65 m long, and you drive your first six hours on the training ground in it.
2 ×
Small car — automatic
For the category B automatic course and for refresher lessons for drivers who'd rather not change gear.
3 ×
Motorcycles A1 and A2 / A
Two 125 cm³ bikes for category A1 and one 650 cm³ bike for categories A2 and A.
1 ×
Car and trailer
A car with a braked trailer, used to practise reversing and parking with a trailer.
08 — Classroom, training ground and team
The classroom is in the office building at 26 Wheelwright Lane. The training ground is 2.5 km away — your instructor drives you there for your first lessons.
24
Classroom seats
Projector, sound system, air conditioning and a kitchenette with water and coffee for learners.
4,200 m²
Training ground
An off-road area with marked parking bays, a chicane and a turning area.
6
Parking spaces in the yard
Reserved for learners, free of charge. The entrance is from Wheelwright Lane.
Who will teach you
You choose your instructor when you enrol. If you don't get on, we'll switch you to another one — no charge and no explanations needed.
What's available in the classroom
09 — Course application
Choose a course, the number of lessons and a start date. The price updates straight away, so you know where you stand before you enrol.
10 — Payment and instalments
We run the instalments ourselves — no third party and no credit checks. You get a receipt for every payment straight away.
Category B course payment schedule
| Payment | When | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | on enrolment | €150.00 |
| 1st instalment | at the first theory class | €246.67 |
| 2nd instalment | after the training ground stage | €246.67 |
| 3rd instalment | before you apply for the driving test | €246.66 |
| Total | €890.00 | |
If you pay the full amount on enrolment, the price is €870. The student discount is taken off before the amount is split into instalments.
Payment methods
Receipts and company invoices
11 — Cancellation and course validity
You also get the terms in print when you enrol, along with your payment schedule.
Cancelling your enrolment
Course validity and paperwork
If you move house or change jobs during the course, we'll switch you to another group at no charge — just call the office.
12 — Gift vouchers
We issue vouchers within two working days — printed, to collect at the office, or sent electronically.
€56
Two 45-minute lessons with an instructor. Ideal for a driver who wants to brush up on parking.
€130
Five 45-minute refresher lessons. The recipient picks the times in the calendar.
€250
A voucher towards a category B course. The rest is paid on enrolment according to the payment schedule.
€890
The complete course, including theory, lessons, first aid and the first test fees.
How it works
Voucher terms
13 — FAQ
If your question isn't here, call the office or write to us through the form — we reply within 24 hours.
41 units of practical training. The first 6 are on the training ground and the other 35 on the road, and together they cover all 12 compulsory EDT lessons. One unit lasts 45 minutes; we usually book two back to back.
The course is valid for twelve months from enrolment. If you need longer, we extend it by three months for €30. It can be extended twice.
We help you book the first available retest. We charge €35 for the paperwork and providing the car. If you failed on the driving, we recommend two or three extra lessons at €28 each to practise the specific mistakes.
These retest terms apply for six months from your first test; after that, you'll need refresher lessons.
We can enrol you at the earliest six months before you reach the minimum age for the category — 17 for a car. We'll check the age for your category together when you enrol. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian signs the application.
Yes. You choose your instructor when you enrol and then book lessons yourself in the calendar. Free slots run from 7:00 to 19:00. For a €40 surcharge we have slots reserved only after 16:00 and at weekends.
A booked lesson must be cancelled at least 24 hours ahead, otherwise it counts as taken.
No. If you pass in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatic cars. To remove the restriction you need to pass the driving test in a manual; five conversion lessons with us cost €150.
Yes, at no extra cost and with no third party. You pay a €150 deposit on enrolment and we split the rest into three instalments — the first when theory starts, the second after the training ground stage, the third before you apply for the driving test. If you pay the full amount on enrolment, we take off €20.
Photo ID (your learner permit, once you have it) and sturdy shoes. If you wear glasses, bring them — you drive in them just as you will in the test. Nothing else is needed; we provide the car and the materials.
14 — Getting here
The office and classroom are in the same building at 26 Wheelwright Lane, Kilkenny. The entrance is from the yard; we're on the second floor.
26 Wheelwright Lane, Kilkenny
The building is on the corner of Wheelwright Lane; the yard entrance is just past the pedestrian crossing. The classroom is on the second floor and the lift is in the yard.
Transport
Parking
If it's your first visit to enrol, call us from the car park — we'll open the gate so you don't have to look for the entrance.
15 — Careers
We have one full-time position and one part-time position for afternoon and weekend lessons. Start date by agreement, from 1 October 2026 at the earliest.
What we expect and what we offer
16 — Contact
We handle enrolment on the spot — no appointment needed. We answer questions by phone during opening hours, or through the form within 24 hours.
Roundabout School of Motoring
Office opening hours
| Monday — Thursday | 9:00 — 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Friday | 9:00 — 15:00 |
| Saturday | 9:00 — 12:00 |
| Sunday | closed |
Theory classes: evening group Tuesday and Thursday 17:00 — 18:45, daytime group Monday and Wednesday 9:00 — 10:45, weekend group Saturday 9:00 — 12:15.
Write to us