Vol. 521 No. 2
126 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will clarify the position in regard to the requirement of having mudguards and flaps on heavy goods vehicles; if there are specific regulations in this area particularly in regard to their use in heavy rainfall where water spray from wheels can be dangerous and of huge risk to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16794/00]
Irish regulations require that, subject to certain exemptions, every vehicle and every trailer attached to a vehicle should be equipped with wings or other similar devices to catch, so far as practicable, mud or water thrown up by the rotation of the wheels, unless adequate protection is afforded by the body of the vehicle.
I have under consideration the incorporation in national regulations of Directive 91/226 EC which sets out the technical requirements which a spray suppression device must meet in order to obtain EU type approval.
