Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that operators of heavy mobile lifting equipment must apply separately to each county council to pass through their territory; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this causes unnecessary bureaucracy and in some cases makes it impossible for some operators to make their equipment available at weekends as councils are closed; if he will give consideration to a new permit system on the same principle as the tax disc which would be issued on an annual basis covering all counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26060/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in reply to Questions Nos. 774 , 824, 778 and 781, all vehicles using public roads are required by law to comply with a range of standards in respect of their construction, equipment, use, weights and dimensions. The requirements are set out in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002 and the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 to 2004. These regulations apply in the interests of public safety and to protect road infrastructure.

Regulation 59 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 provides for the issuing of special permits by local authorities for the use of vehicles on roads notwithstanding that they contravene certain provisions of the aforementioned regulations. Specifically, the special permit system is intended to deal with vehicles carrying abnormal and indivisible loads. The function is assigned to local authorities because they are best placed to assess the suitability of the roads in their functional areas for use by non-compliant vehicles and to determine the appropriate routes and itineraries to be used in the making of journeys by such vehicles. A special permit issued by a local authority may cover one or more vehicles and have a validity of up to 12 months duration. I have no plans for my Department to take on the function of issuing special permits. However, in particular circumstances, a single special permit system issued by one body has merit and I have held some discussions on this subject. I will ask my Department to explore how best to proceed.

I am aware of the dissatisfaction of some haulage contractors concerning the existing arrangements for the issue of special permits particularly in connection with journeys conducted on a regular basis involving wide and long loads. My Department is currently reviewing the special permit system with a view to identifying ways to streamline the process with regard to the transport of wide and long loads and to introducing, as far as is possible, the application of uniform practices by local authorities in the administration of the special permit system generally.