Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the inconsistencies that exist between the different systems used by local authorities relating to the issuing of permits for the movement of large construction equipment; and if he intends to establish a more streamlined, manageable and efficient system of permits under his Department. [36645/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Road Haulage Association has expressed dissatisfaction 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. 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. However, my Department is reviewing the special permit system with a view to streamlining the process for vehicles involved in journeys conducted on a regular basis transporting wide and long loads. In that regard, a meeting was held with the assistant Garda Commissioner, Garda national traffic bureau, in November 2005 at which the Garda agreed to act as the co-ordinating body for the issue of special permits for such operations. The implementation of such arrangements will require the making of revised regulations, work on which is under way in my Department.