Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Transport the outcome of the review of his transport manager policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26520/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A consultation paper was issued to all licensed Road Transport Operators (approximately 7,500) in March 2009 proposing a number of changes to the current Transport Manager Policy. The document was also placed on my Department's Website (www.transport.ie) and sent to a number of representative bodies and agencies.

Currently, Transport Managers employed by firms are not allowed to engage in any other employment outside the transport firm, or to work as Transport Managers for other firms simultaneously. There are some minor exceptions where the Transport Manager is a spouse or partner of the operator.

New EU legislation will permit Transport Managers to manage operations for up to four separate Transport Operators, providing the total number of vehicles managed does not exceed 50. The consultation paper also proposed to allow Transport Managers to engage in other employment outside the Transport firm where the number of vehicles being managed is less than 50. The amount of time that can be worked outside the transport firm will depend on the total number of vehicles being managed.

The majority of the operators who responded in the consultation process are in favour of the proposed changes. It is expected that the forthcoming EU Legislation upon which the new Transport Manager policy proposals are based, will be adopted shortly.