From the
PPL/IR forums:
"IR(R) holders may be aware that EASA had only extended their approval of the UK recognising the IR(R) for use in EASA aircraft until 2019.
I have now heard from the CAA that they have an agreement from EASA that they can continue issuing and recognising the rating beyond the deadline by way of an Exception.
So the IR(R) is safe at least until the BIR is implemented.
There is no agreement (or even discussion at the moment) about the fate of the IR(R) after the BIR implementation, but it seems likely that there will be grandfather rights, possibly opening the possibility of getting the IMCR as a route to the BIR."