Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 January 2014
226. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to maximum load heights, his plans to make an exemption in cases where fodder is imported into the county on a continuous basis as the contractors who haul this fodder will have to increase the costs if the height of their loads is reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4745/14]
View answerStatutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum vehicle height limit at 4.65 metres. These regulations were signed into law on the 1st of November 2008 by my predecessor, Minister Noel Dempsey.
These regulations allowed a five year derogation from that limit for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1 November 2008. This derogation expired on the 31st October last.
Following the expiry of the derogation, specific concerns were raised with me by the agri-sector in relation to the effect that the 4.65 metre maximum vehicle height restriction would have on the cost of transporting fodder. This is an issue to which I am giving further consideration.
