Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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216. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow motorcycles to use the bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The use of bus lanes is provided for in the Road Traffic (Traffic & Parking) Regulations, 1997, as amended.  The primary purpose of providing bus lanes is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport.  The Regulations generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and to cyclists.

As taxis provide on-street immediate public hire services, an exemption exists in relation to their use in with-flow bus lanes when they are being used in the course of business. There have been many requests over the years to extend the use of bus lanes to other categories of road user.  These include limousines and hackneys, multi-occupancy vehicles and motorcycles.  My Department has rejected these requests in light of the original reason for the creation of bus lanes. My view remains that the use of bus lanes should not be extended in any way which would undermine their original purpose through adding to congestion in these lanes.