Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1612. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to clamp down on private operators clamping vehicles parked on private lands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37183/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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While Section 101B of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, regulates 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, in March 2013, approved the Heads of a Regulation of Vehicle Immobilisation Bill. This followed an extensive consultation with the then Joint Oireachtas Committee for Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

Under the principal provisions of the Bill, the National Transport Authority will ensure the provision of adequate advisory signage in locations where clamping is in operation, set maximum clamp release periods and fees, and establish an independent appeals process .

The Bill is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and I hope to  introduce it in the Oireachtas by the end of the year.