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Road Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2013

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Questions (200)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

200. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider reversing the change of maximum vehicle height of 4.65 m in view of the fact that the vast majority of lorries transporting fodder will have their loads significantly cut, thereby increasing the cost of bales for farmers and causing undue hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47288/13]

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Written answers

Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum height limit of vehicles in this country at 4.65 metres.  

Following public consultation undertaken prior to the completion of the Regulations, the intention to introduce a 4.65m limit was announced in January 2007. Following representations from the industry, it was agreed that a five year derogation from that limit would apply to vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1st November 2008. The derogation was introduced to allow a five-year period within which vehicles operating at heights in excess of the new limits could be withdrawn from use in Ireland or to allow for the necessary height reductions by operators. This derogation expired on 31st October 2013.

In relation to the concerns of the farming industry specifically, those concerns have only been raised in the past number of weeks and were not raised with either my Department or with me by those bodies prior to that. Given the lead-in time that this height limit has had, extending the derogation would have the effect of penalising those operators who have adjusted their fleet to ensure compliance with this well flagged law, while rewarding those that did not.

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