Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on allowing chauffeur driven cars access to drive on bus lanes, thus giving the same access to routes as the taxi industry is permitted. [10338/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The current rules governing use of bus lanes were established through the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997-1998. Large public service vehicles (buses) are permitted to use all bus lanes. The key consideration underpinning the current policy is that bus lanes are provided to support and promote bus-based public transport and to protect the carrying capacity of bus lanes so as to optimise journey times for the members of the public who use that mode of transport.

Two exemptions are provided in the regulations. Pedal cyclists are regarded as being vulnerable road users and, on road safety grounds, are permitted to use with-flow bus lanes.

Taxis are available for hire on-street to the public at large and are regarded as being an element of the public transport service and are, accordingly, permitted to use with-flow bus lanes. I have no proposals to extend further the types of vehicles permitted to use bus lanes.