Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he consulted with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in advance of SI No. 413 of 2017 issuing on road testing of tractors; and if he relayed the potential concerns of farmers impacted. [45615/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is the competent authority for legislation on the roadworthiness of vehicles, governed by the EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive (Directive 2014/45/EU). In this context the Department of Transport introduced new regulations to provide for the introduction of compulsory testing of tractors used for commercial road haulage purposes. These regulations, in the form of  statutory instrument No. 413 of 2017, specifically relate to Category T tractors with a maximum design speed exceeding 40km/hr and operating at a distance exceeding 25 km from the address at which the owner ordinarily resides or carries on business. It is understood that the legislation is not intended to apply to tractors used by farmers in the course of carrying out their normal farming activities but rather applies to commercial road haulage activities.

The Road Safety Authority, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, convened a forum to examine any technical points arise in the implementation of the regulation. Stakeholders across the agricultural sector, including officials from my Department, are represented at this forum and have the opportunity to present their views on relevant issues.

I will forward your correspondence to my colleague, Mr. Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, as Minister with responsibility for vehicle testing.