Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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634. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits on rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5567/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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635. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits for rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5568/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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636. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding new weight limits for rigid trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 to 636, inclusive, together.

Across the EU there is no maximum weight 'norm' for five axle rigid vehicles and until now Ireland's Construction and Use Regulations have not stipulated a regulatory weight limit for such vehicles.

Correcting this anomaly, a Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) study on the pavement wear effects of these vehicles on Ireland's road and bridge infrastructure has, in the interests of minimising pavement damage, recommended that they be capped at a maximum weight limit of 36 tonnes. Accepting TII's recommendations, it is not possible to retrospectively apply a 36 tonne limit to five axle rigids already in service and plated to 39 tonnes prior to the introduction of a maximum regulatory weight limit on 1 March 2017.

Equally, since 1 February 2017, the 36 tonne maximum regulatory weight limit will also apply to four axle rigids, which have subsequently been converted, through the retrofitting of an additional axle, to a now five axle unit. From this date, such conversions must be approved by the vehicle manufacturer, or one of their authorised distributors, to ensure that the vehicle in its modified form can satisfy manufacturer performance requirements.