Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding motorcyclists use of bus lanes; and if motor cyclists are permitted to use this facility in order to improve traffic flows and improve motor cyclist safety. [25539/10]

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. The regulations, which have national application, generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and, in the case of with-flow bus lanes, to cyclists also. 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.

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.