Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We appear to be trying to reopen the debate about the 4.65 m height. We had that debate previously when the Dublin Port tunnel was being finalised. I was chairman of Dublin City Council's transport strategic policy committee at the time and I remember there was a great deal of consultation. The city council, after that consultation, agreed on the height. I note the Department and then Minister for Transport also agreed on that height, and that set the parameter for over-height vehicles in the State. As was stated, many years notice was given to the transport sector that it would have to make other arrangements to deal with that.

Mr. Wilson is suggesting that a special permit system be introduced to get around the restriction. He spoke of three small areas in Dublin. I represent one of those constituencies and those living there would not regard it as a small area. The over-height vehicles come from the port up Alfie Byrne Road, onto the Malahide Road and, maybe, along the N32 to get onto the M50, traversing the full length of the Malahide Road. That is not a small area. Alternatively, they use Collins Avenue and Griffith Avenue to get to the west. These residents have lived with that problem for many years and now it is no longer permissible, and the road haulage sector will have to comply with that. The sector has had many years notice of this and I accept it has a problem.

Mr. Wilson spoke of the vehicles being washed out. He stated that those vehicles licensed under the new permit system would travel by a defined route. He did not specify that defined route and I want to know what defined route he has in mind.

He did not mention bridge strikes, which happen in the city now and again - but, thankfully, not frequently - and often have an effect on the DART commuter service, sometimes knocking out the service for a couple of hours, perhaps during morning peak time. That has always been an argument against over-height vehicles.

I take the point that much of this infrastructure was built during Victorian times when we did not have the type of vehicles we have now, but in cities, particularly in high-density residential areas, residents do not want to see over-height vehicles coming up through their streets. The port tunnel has been built and there is the heavy goods vehicle strategy banning HGVs between the canals except where they have a special permit, yet the sector is now arguing for another permit system. That raises many serious questions. I thought we had resolved the matter and that compliance with the new heights would be a fact of life, and I think we are now talking about changing that.