Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Transport if he plans to change the present speed limit for large public service vehicles in view of the establishment of a speed limit of 80 km/h for coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3393/05]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason his Department has not changed the speed limits for large public service vehicles, such as coaches and buses, in line with those recommended in the report of the working group on the review of speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3830/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 371 together.

As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 209 of 1 February 2005, I made regulations on 12 January 2005 to prescribe a maximum speed limit for certain classes of vehicles from 20 January 2005. A limit of 80 km/h limit was set for vehicles with accommodation for more than eight passengers.

In setting the metric speed limit for this class of large vehicle, I made no change to the speed limit policy that had applied since 1992 other than converting the previous maximum limit of 50 mph to the nearest equivalent metric value of 80 km/h. I have, however, made it clear that I will revisit the matter of maximum speed limits for these and other specified classes of vehicles later this year.