Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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715. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to examine the operation of clamping companies and the practice of clamping; when legislation will be brought forward to regulate private clamping operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25367/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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While Section 101B of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, provides for the clamping and/or towing of vehicles by local authorities or their agents on public roads or local authority car parks, there is currently no regulation of clamping companies nor of the activity of clamping on private land. In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government to “legislate to regulate the vehicle clamping industry” , the Government recently approved the Heads of the Regulation of Vehicle Immobilisation Bill, which are available on my Department's website. Under the provisions of this Bill, the National Transport Authority will be given powers to license clamping companies, set clamping-release fees, establish an appeals process and separate complaints procedure, as well as introducing an industry-wide code of practice. The Bill will be drafted over the coming months in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and I hope to  introduce it in the Oireachtas by the end of the year.