Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which it has been possible to alleviate the extra transport costs imposed on the agri-sector arising from the maximum permissible vehicle height restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53582/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, earlier this year I announced the allocation of funding for an imported fodder transport scheme, designed to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage (hay, silage, haylage) from outside the island of Ireland. The aid substantially covered the cost of transport into the country, thus reducing the cost to farmers of a bale of hay by approximately one third.

While the scheme operated through the co-operatives, marts and other approved agencies, the actual beneficiaries are the individual farmers and primary producers who needed urgent supplies of feed. Operating the scheme in this manner was the quickest and most effective way of getting the fodder to those who needed it.

The Minister for Transport, who is responsible for road traffic law, introduced Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 which sets the maximum height limit of vehicles in this country at 4.65 metres.

Following public consultation undertaken by the Department of Transport, prior to the completion of the relevant Regulations in 2008, the intention to introduce a 4.65m limit was announced in January 2007. In response to representations from the haulage industry, it was agreed that a five year derogation from that limit would apply to vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1st November 2008. The derogation was introduced to allow a five-year period within which vehicles operating at heights in excess of the new limits could be withdrawn from use in Ireland in an orderly and planned manner, or to allow for the necessary height reductions by operators and would minimise the economic costs of the change. This derogation expired on 31st October 2013.

Given the lead-in time that this height limit has had, extending the derogation would have the effect of penalising those operators who have adjusted their fleet to ensure compliance with this well flagged law, while rewarding those that did not.