Just thought I'd bump this up there in case anyone has an answer to my questions.
At the moment, it is looking like I would have difficulty completing the IR within three years of completing my ATPL exams.
However, I do want to attempt the ATPL exams as I have time to do them now, and am confident I can complete my CPL/MEP well within that time frame.
Would my above assumption (that in doing the ATPL exams and only getting a CPL I would only have to resit the IFR communications exam if I wanted to get an IR after the three years have lapsed) be correct?
If this is the case, then it would seem the EASA transition has for once made my life a little simpler. As I understand it, there was a completely different syllabus and only 9 exams for CPL under JAA.