Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1570. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a maximum regulatory weight laden limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/16]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1607. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding weight limits for five-axle trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1534/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1570 and 1607 together.

Five axle rigid vehicles are a recent phenomenon on Irish roads. Across the EU there is no maximum weight 'norm' for these vehicles and a lacuna in Ireland's Construction and Use Regulations has meant that a maximum weight limit for such has hitherto remained unstipulated.

While a Transport Infrastructure Ireland commissioned study recommended a 36 tonne maximum weight limit for such vehicles, a regulatory exemption, subject to certain technical requirements, will apply to those rigids with five (or more) axles which have already been plated to operate at 39 tonnes and which are in service before 1 March 2017.

The 1 February date referred to in the details supplied relates to five axle vehicles whose recorded details on their Vehicle Registration Certificate (VCR) are not accurate. In cases where this is so, owners of such vehicles are required to contact their local motor tax office by the 1 February 2017 in order to update their details.

The RSA has anticipated that there may be truck body builders who are presently at an irrevocable stage in the manufacture of 5 axle rigids which have manufacturer installed axles, come approved with a second stage incomplete EC 2007/46 Whole Vehicle Type Approval for a Gross Vehicle Design Weight of 39 tonnes, and which are compliant with all current and future RSA technical requirements for such vehicles.

Where such vehicles are at an irrevocable stage of manufacture (prior to the date of the original RSA notification on this matter on 1 December last), the RSA will consider, on a case by case basis, the feasibility of such vehicles being included as part of the aforementioned regulatory exemption.