Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:158 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the progress to date on the reintroduction of maximum height limits for trucks. [12666/07]
View answerTuesday, 3 April 2007
Questions (128)
Written answers
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 responsibility for matters relating to vehicle standards is now with the Road Safety Authority.
I announced on 25 January 2007 that I proposed to make a regulation to provide for a national maximum vehicle height limit of 4.65 metres and asked the Road Safety Authority to prepare a draft regulation providing for this maximum vehicle height limit and to undertake the necessary consultation with the European Commission regarding its introduction. Before the regulation can come into force, it must first be referred to the European Commission for consideration by it and the other Member States in accordance with the EU Technical Standards and Regulations Directive — Directive 98/34/EC. In making the announcement, I confirmed that, subject to the outcome of the EU consultation, it would be my intention to implement the height limit at the earliest date possible and to provide a period of two years for the phasing out of existing vehicles that exceed the proposed height limit.
A draft regulation providing for the vehicle height limit has since been prepared by the Road Safety Authority, and was referred to the European Commission on 5 March 2007. We must now await the outcome of the three months mandatory EU consultation period.