John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will delay the implementation of the maximum regulatory weight laden limit for five or more axle non-articulated trucks to allow the industry carry out necessary modifications and works to vehicles, as there is currently a backlog in fulfilling these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5287/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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. Separate to this the RSA has anticipated that there may be truck body builders who are presently at an irrevocable stage in the manufacture of five 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.