Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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572. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to revise the five-axle haulage derogation which was signed into law on the basis that the haulage industry has been under sustained pressure over the past number of years with regard to overheads; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the transition period that was envisaged in 2008 to move to five axle-trucks has been financially unviable for many hauliers who have to change their entire fleet due to the economic downturn; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, since SI 5/2003, vehicles have been developed to the highest technical standard, which far outweighs that envisaged in 2003. [7050/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The derogation referred to was conceded by the then Minister in 2003, to end in 2008 in order to allow the haulage industry renew their then fleets. Subsequently, this deadline was extended seven times as a further concession to the industry to move to more road friendly articulated vehicle combinations, such as the 6-axle articulated (3+3) combination.

Given the ongoing challenges in maintaining our critical roads infrastructure with constrained resources, the derogation was ended on 30 June 2016. This was necessary to permit a decrease in road and bridge infrastructure damage caused by such vehicles and to thereby reduce the costs to the public finances in terms of maintaining and repairing vital road and bridge infrastructure.

While I understand the concerns raised by the road haulage industry, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I must have regard to the overarching need to maintain national transport infrastructure in as cost effective manner as possible. It is primarily for this reason, as well as the extensive 13 year period given to the industry to adjust, that the previously existing derogation has not been renewed. While my Department and I obviously review our legislation on a regular basis, I do not believe that the position today has changed materially so as to cause me to reconsider this necessary measure to protect our roads.