Written answers

Wednesday, 3 May 2006

9:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport if he intends to introduce additional measures to reduce the level of speeding on roads by heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16198/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Speed limits that apply to specified classes of vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 2004 are termed Ordinary speed limits. Since 20 January 2005 a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h applies to goods vehicles that have a design gross vehicle weight in excess of 3,500 kilograms on all roads except where a lower road speed limit applies. The same level of fixed charge and penalty points that applies to breach of a road speed limit apply to breach of the Ordinary speed limit of 80 km/h.

Since 1993 (in accordance with EU Directive 92/6) goods vehicles over 12 tonne design gross vehicle weight and buses over 10 tonne design gross vehicle weight must be fitted with speed limiters so that their speed may not exceed 90 km/h and 100 km/h respectively. In December 2005, I made Regulations extending the requirement for speed limitation to be fitted to include all goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes design gross vehicle weight and all passenger vehicles having more than 8 passenger seats. These Regulations gave effect to EU Directive 2002/85.

It is an offence to drive such a vehicle without a speed limitation device or with a device which is not functioning correctly. The penalty for such an offence is a fine up to €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

I intend in the upcoming Road Safety Bill to make provision to enable me at the appropriate time to apply the fixed charge and penalty point systems to these speed limitation offences.

The enforcement of speed limits and the speed limiter provisions are a matter for the Garda Síochána and, where prosecutions are initiated, for the Courts.

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport further to the recent chemical spillage on the N28 Carrigaline to Ringaskiddy road, the measures which are in place to ensure the safe road transport of such hazardous substances. [16281/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Persons engaged in the transport of dangerous goods by road must comply with a range of requirements set down in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 2004. The Regulations, which were made by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, impose duties on the various participants associated with the carriage of the dangerous goods. The range of requirements to be met under the Regulations come within the remit of a number of Government Departments and State bodies, namely, the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and Transport as well as the Health and Safety Authority; the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland; the National Standards Authority of Ireland; and the Irish National Accreditation Board. The lead body for the purposes of the Regulations is the Health and Safety Authority.

The Regulations contain requirements for the vehicles as well as the tanks, receptacles and packaging containing the dangerous goods. They require that the drivers and others involved in the transport of the dangerous goods (including their packaging, loading, filling, unloading) be adequately trained and, in the case of drivers, hold a certificate to that effect.

Vehicles used in the carriage of dangerous goods by road must conform to certain technical specifications. My Department has been assigned responsibility for Part 5 of the Regulations relating to the technical examinations of such vehicles to determine whether a vehicle meets the specified technical requirements for the class or classes of substances which it is proposed to transport using that vehicle. It is a requirement for the use of such a vehicle in a public place that it has undergone a technical inspection and been issued with a certificate of approval. A certificate of approval is valid for 12 months. Enforcement of the requirement for a vehicle to have a valid certificate of approval is carried out by the Health and Safety Authority.

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