Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider incorporating the Smarter Transport Bill 2011 into upcoming legislation. [23810/12]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider allowing road authorities to make bye-laws for the provision and use of charging bays on public roads for electrically powered vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles; and if he will consider authorising a road authority to make bye-laws for the control and regulation of parking by car club vehicles on public roads. [23811/12]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if will consider incorporating the Smarter Transport Bill 2011 into upcoming legislation. [23862/12]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider allowing road authorities to make bye-laws for the provision and use of charging bays on public roads for electrically powered vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles; and if he will consider authorising a road authority to make bye-laws for the control and regulation of parking by car club vehicles on public roads. [23863/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 540, 541, 545 and 546 together.

I am keen to encourage the use of electric cars and car clubs as part of my Department's Sustainable Transport agenda, and changes to legislation to allow road authorities to make bye-laws would indeed be a help in this regard. Last October Deputy Eoghan Murphy proposed a Private Member's Bill, the Smarter Transport Bill 2011 to allow for local authorities to make bye-laws for the provision and use of charging bays on public roads for electrically powered and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and for the control and regulation of parking by car club vehicles on public roads. At my request, officials of my Department met with him to discuss this Bill.

I support the substance of the proposals which Deputy Murphy has made. If the Smarter Transport Bill 2011 does not receive time for debate in the Oireachtas in the coming months, I will seek to incorporate the measures proposed within in it within forthcoming from my Department.