Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2014
585. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make all designated bus lanes in urban areas operational for 24 hours, seven days a week; his views that it is appropriate to provide parking in bus lanes thus rendering them ineffective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37753/14]
View answerThe regulations governing bus lanes are set out under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, as amended. The Regulations allow local authorities, in their capacity as road authorities, to decide where bus lanes will be located. The local authorities also have discretion to decide time periods within which the bus lanes are operational. This includes the option of making bus lanes operational at all times and on all days of the week.
Parking in bus lanes is prohibited during their operational hours. It is likewise a matter for the local authorities to decide as appropriate whether parking should be permitted on a given bus lane out of hours.
I believe it is right that local authorities should have these options in order to decide what is the most appropriate time period for the operation of bus lanes, on a case by case basis. I have no plans to change this.
