Liz McManus
Ceist:133 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to reintroduce the promised regulations regarding the maximum height of commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7120/03]
Other Questions. - Vehicle Regulations.
An initial consultation process has been completed with regard to the possible reintroduction of a maximum height for vehicles in use in a public place. My Department will now prepare an initial draft of regulations, taking account of the views of various parties, which include hauliers, Irish Rail, the National Roads Authority and the Department of the Environment and Local Government. The draft will take account of the economic, rail safety and road safety considerations as well as the need to protect costly transport infrastructure. Due to the conflicting interests concerned, I envisage further consultations when the draft regulations are available, with a view to achieving a working consensus on the final shape of the regulations.
I ask the Minister of State whether all consultation is now finished on the draft regulations and when he expects to publish them.
The consultations on the draft regulations will be completed by May.
I wish to ask the Minister of State a broader question. Why is it taking so long for the State to introduce regulations governing the height of such vehicles, given that the need for such regulations has presumably been evident for the past 50 years?
This will represent a reintroduction of regulations. Regulations were in place up to the early 1990s but were allowed to lapse by the manufacturers. Various groups have opposed the reintroduction of regulations but the Minister for Transport is determined to do so, particularly on safety grounds.
I ask the Minister of State what the implications of these new regulations will be for the Dublin Port tunnel. Newspaper reports suggest that between 2% and 5% of existing HGVs will not be able to use the tunnel because of height restrictions. Is it the Minister of State's intention to introduce a height restriction that is compatible with the height of the tunnel?
The report in a Sunday newspaper that the Deputy refers to was totally incorrect. A report was commissioned by the Dublin Port Authority and funded by Dublin City Council—
Take any figure between 2% and 5%.
The findings of the report were selectively leaked, unfortunately.
I am not disputing the percentage, I am saying that the figure is somewhere between 2% and 5%. I ask whether the regulations will ensure that all trucks will fit into the tunnel.
Yes, the intention is that all trucks will conform with the regulations once they are introduced.
To be very clear, is the Minister of State indicating that with the introduction of these regulations, all trucks will be able to use the port tunnel and they will not have to go through Dublin city centre?
The Government is determined that once the port tunnel is finished, no trucks will—
The company running the Dublin Port tunnel states that 2% of trucks will not be able to use it.
It is anticipated that when the port tunnel is finished, no trucks will be allowed into the city centre.
Anticipated by whom?
That is what is anticipated by Dublin City Council and—
The company operating the tunnel states that 2% of trucks will be unable to use it, somebody else states 5%, but that is not in dispute. There are trucks in use on Irish roads at the moment that will not fit into the tunnel as it is currently planned. There is speculation about increasing the height of the tunnel at very large expense. Is the Minister of State saying that the regulations he intends to introduce in May will limit the height of vehicles to a level whereby all trucks on Irish roads will be able to use the tunnel?
Yes. We will regulate for smaller trucks. The only EU directive on this provides that trucks be restricted to a height of four metres. The port tunnel accommodates trucks of a height of 4.65 metres and is itself 4.9 metres high. The regulations will envisage that all trucks will be able to use the port tunnel in future.
Is the Minister of State saying that the double-story car transporter will be illegal in Ireland after the introduction of the regulations?
Yes. As I have pointed out, various individuals have problems with the regulations to be introduced. However, we already have regulations for different types of transport permits that are granted by local authorities, such as those pertaining to a wide or very tall load. That permit system will still exist, particularly for car transporters and so on.
So the regulations will not cover all trucks.
There will be trucks, naturally, that will exceed 4.9 metres.
Does that not defeat the purpose of the regulations?
No. Permits are currently in place to allow flexibility for such vehicles.
Does the Minister of State accept that the introduction of the regulations will not mean the height of trucks will be altered. How does he propose that those trucks that are currently above the height restriction anticipated in the proposed regulations will continue to travel through Dublin city?
Give them a haircut.
Under the regulations, all trucks will be able to avail of the tunnel. There are certain height restrictions in different—
Will the Minister of State saw the tops off the vehicles?
I would imagine that trucks, particularly foreign trucks, will be barred if they do not conform with the new regulations.