John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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514. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm the maximum legal height of lorries here prior to 1 November 2013; if he will confirm the maximum allowable height for lorries crossing the border with the North; the maximum length of lorry to be permitted on Irish roads from 1 November; if the new rules introduced on 1 November be in compliance with the proposed revision of Directive 96/53/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47970/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which set the maximum height limit of vehicles in Ireland, came into force on the 1st November 2008. Those Regulations granted a five-year derogation to certain classes of vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1st November 2008 in order to allow a reasonable period within which vehicles operating at heights in excess of this limit could be withdrawn from use. That derogation expired on 31st October 2013. From 1st November 2013, a maximum height of 4.65 metres applies to all vehicles operating on the roads in this jurisdiction.  

The maximum permissible length of vehicles on Irish roads is set out in Statutory Instrument 5 of 2003 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003, (as amended), which provide that (a) a mechanically propelled vehicle other than a bus shall not exceed 12 metres; (b) a trailer shall not exceed 12 metres; (c) an articulated vehicle shall not exceed 16.50 metres; (d) an articulated bus shall not exceed 18.75 metres; (e) a bus having two axles shall not exceed 13.50 metres; and (f) a bus having more than two axles shall not exceed 15.00 metres.  

While the Commission's proposals to further amend Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 have been examined by the European Parliament, they have yet to be discussed by the European Council.  It would, therefore, be premature to speculate on the final shape of those proposals, or their likely impact on Ireland.