Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the standard 3-tonne limit traffic-ban sign applies to all buses over that weight, and if not, the exemptions that apply. [7226/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 331 of 2012)and the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) (no.2) Regulations 2012(S.I. 332 of 2012)provide the legislative basis for weight restrictions on vehicles entering a road, and associated signage.

Relevant signage in this regard includes Regulatory Upright Sign (RUS) 015 which addresses traffic management and road safety issues, such as prohibiting heavy vehicles from using residential roads, and RUS 053 which addresses entry restrictions relating to the structural integrity of the road network including bridges.

RUS 015 (maximum design gross vehicle weight – traffic management) is provided at the entrance of a road and provides that drivers of vehicles whose design gross vehicle weight exceeds the weight specified on the sign are prohibited from proceeding beyond that point, except where it is necessary for a vehicle to gain access to, or egress from, premises accessible only from that road.

RUS 053 (maximum design gross vehicle weight – safety) provides that the driver of a vehicle exceeding the design gross vehicle weight displayed on the sign shall not proceed beyond it. There are no exceptions to this Regulation.

The weight limit displayed on any particular sign is a matter for the relevant local authority.

The entry restrictions associated with traffic signs RUS 015 and RUS 053 apply to all vehicles, including buses, which exceed the design gross vehicle weight specified on either sign.