Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1789. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the guidelines in relation to haulage licences; the waiting time from application to issue of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25308/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Road Haulage Operator Licences are issued under Section 2 of the Road Traffic and Transport Act 2006 and are valid for up to five years.

In order to be granted a Road Haulage Operator Licence, an applicant must satisfy a number of requirements including: having an establishment in the State; good repute; professional competence; and financial standing.  A licence is granted on the basis that the applicant has demonstrated compliance with the licensing requirements. 

Processing of a licence application cannot be completed until all the necessary information has been received and examined by the Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit of my Department.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to satisfactorily address any issues that may arise in the application process.  Regulation (EC) No. 1071/2009 allows a period of up to three months for the competent authority, that is, my Department, to complete the examination of a licence application.  In duly justified cases, this period may be extended by one additional month.  The majority of properly completed licence applications are processed in a considerably shorter time, on average within 10 working days.  However, where there are issues in an application that need to be clarified and examined, the full period provided under legislation may be availed of, as required, in advance of arriving at a decision on a licence application.