Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the special derogation for coach tourism contained in Regulation EEC 3820/85 Article 6(1) be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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On 6 December 2005, the European Parliament and the Council reached agreement, through the conciliation process, on a new EU regulation designed to improve driving times and rest periods for professional drivers. The new EU regulation includes a number of changes to the existing rules, designed specifically to minimise the risks of driver fatigue and ensure safety for drivers and other road users. This includes the removal of the existing provision that allows drivers of passenger vehicles involved in non-regular services to drive for up to 12 continuous days before taking a weekly rest period.

As the provisions of the new regulation have already been agreed at EU level, there is no scope for making changes at this stage. These new rules will replace the existing drivers' hours rules which have not been updated since 1985. It is expected that the legal text of the new regulation will be formally adopted shortly and will come into effect throughout the European Union as soon as it is published in the EU Official Journal. After that, member states will have 12 months to implement the new drivers' hours rules.