Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he has decided not to extend the derogation permitting a maximum weight limit of 42 tonnes over five axle vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22482/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The maximum weight limits and dimensions of goods vehicles in the European Union (EU) are set by EC Directive 96/53/EC and were incorporated into Irish law by the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, S.I. No. 5 of 2003.  While Directive 96/53/EC sets maximum limits for vehicles moving between jurisdictions within the EU, it does not impose an absolute weight limit for national vehicle movement. This allowed Ireland to set its own internal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits.

To allow the haulage industry renew their then fleets, a derogation allowing an increase in the gross weight of 5 axle articulated vehicles from 40 tonnes under EU Directive 96/53/EC to 42 tonnes was conceded by the then Minister in 2003, to end in 2008. This deadline was extended seven times, as a further concession to the industry.

Given the ongoing challenges in maintaining our critical roads infrastructure with constrained resources, the derogation was ended on 30 June 2016.  This was necessary to permit a decrease in road and bridge infrastructure damage caused by such vehicles and to thereby reduce the costs to the public finances in terms of maintaining and repairing vital road and bridge infrastructure.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I must have regard to the overarching need to maintain national transport infrastructure in as cost effective manner as possible. It is primarily for this reason, as well as the extensive period of over 13 years given to the industry to adjust, that the previously existing derogation has not been renewed.​