Vol. 558 No. 4
376 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions there have been or are in progress following the introduction of the three tonne ban at Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, Dublin 18. [24651/02]
377 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reported incidences of heavy goods vehicles being stopped by members of the Garda Síochána for breaching the three tonne limit at Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, Dublin 18. [24652/02]
378 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda Síochána has a policy of active enforcement and prosecution for breaches of three ton limits; and if this policy has been implemented in relation to the three tonne ban at Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, Dublin 18. [24653/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 to 378, inclusive, together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the local members of the Garda Síochána fully enforce the three tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road by carrying out regular checkpoints. I am further informed that from 1 January 2001 to 2 December 2002, 542 heavy goods vehicles have been reported stopped by members of the Garda Síochána for breaching the three tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road and that, over the same period, 168 prosecutions have either been finalised or are in progress.
I understand that heavy goods vehicles exceeding the three tonne limit may lawfully enter the Kennelsfort Road for the purpose of gaining access to or egress from premises accessible only from that road, e.g., to deliver goods to Palmerstown shopping centre or the Cherry Orchard industrial estate. As a consequence, goods vehicles entering or exiting the Kennelsfort Road are not necessarily in breach of the relevant regulations.
