Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Transport the proposals suggested to him or requested by Dublin City Council for regulatory or legislative changes or other statutory provisions in connection with their drafting of a heavy goods vehicle management strategy for Dublin; the date of each request; his views in each case; and the legislative changes he intends making. [2664/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The formulation of traffic management strategies generally is a matter for the determination of each local authority. In that context the development of a specific strategy for the management of heavy goods vehicles in Dublin city to coincide with the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel is a matter for Dublin City Council. An initial draft of such a strategy was made available to my Department in December 2003 for information purposes prior to the instigation by the city council of a public consultation process. Significant developments have been pursued in respect of the proposed strategy and I understand that a further public consultation process was initiated by the city council in respect of their latest proposals in December 2005.

The management strategy currently proposed by the city council will incorporate the application of certain restrictions on the use of heavy goods vehicles in areas in the city, which will have to be supported by an appropriate statutory framework. The city council has been engaged with my Department since early 2004 in the determination of such a framework. This will incorporate the making of traffic and parking regulations under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 which will address, in particular, the parameters for restrictions or exemptions for the operation of a permit system, and the making of traffic signs regulations under section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Decisions regarding the areas where the restrictions will apply and the vehicles that will be subject to it will be matters for the determination of the city council.