Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

243. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact that Circular RW18 and the new regime for exceptional abnormal loads has had on the timing and cost of moving very heavy loads, including for grid and energy project;, if his Department has undertaken or plans to undertake a formal review of the regime in light of stakeholder feedback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65099/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Exceptional Abnormal Loads can cause significant damage and deterioration to pavements, bridges and bridge components along the Irish road network. The presence of these vehicles and loads will increase over time and pose a significant risk to the road transport network, in particular where overloading and potential damage can be caused to bridge structures and other pieces of infrastructure such as water mains, and gas mains.  Due to their age and service life, some bridges have experienced deterioration over their lifetime and are particularly vulnerable to extreme load events due to their reduced capacity over time. Medium span bridges and ageing structures are particularly vulnerable, but even modern bridges in Ireland have not been designed to carry such exceptional abnormal loads.

Traditionally, Abnormal Load Applications to Local Authorities in Ireland were for loads below 180 tonnes, and usually below 150 tonnes. In recent years, energy sector requirements mean requests for the movement of exceptionally heavy abnormal loads have increased significantly and are expected to continue. Numerous loads programmed to be moved over the coming years are far in excess of 180 tonnes, with some large generators identified by the energy sector as up to 570 tonnes.

This puts significant pressure on Ireland’s road and bridge infrastructure. Modern bridge structures have been designed to accommodate loading of 180 tonnes; numerous ‘legacy’ bridges have a design loading significantly lower than 180 tonnes.  Consequently, additional structural assessment requirements apply to heavy loads and particularly loads over 180 tonnes to help protect road assets and the safety of road users.

Despite large loads such as transformers being ordered 2-3 years before delivery, little early engagement and consultation with stakeholders has taken place and have submitted late requests to transport these exceptional loads.  In many cases exceptional loads are being ordered with no consideration for route selection and no guarantee they can be delivered to their destinations.  Appropriate assessments are required to ensure the Local Authorities have the necessary information to approve the safe movement of these loads. 

As a result, Department of Transport Circular RW18/2024 was issued to clarify this assessment process, which is needed both to protect state infrastructure and to assist applicants in the management of exceptionally heavy abnormal loads. The circular sets out the process for compliance with structural assessment standards and provides applicants with additional clarity. The Department of Transport keeps all circulars under review and issues notifications where updates or clarifications are required.

The increase in movement of exceptionally heavy abnormal loads puts the road and bridge network at significant risk of damage or indeed failure, with clear implications for other road users. The increase needs to be managed appropriately.  Early project engagement with the relevant bodies, including local authorities, is key.  In addition, options to reduce these loads to expedite the process and reduce risk need to be considered by the energy sector.  Both the Department of Transport and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and their agencies are aware of the technical and administrative difficulties in this area and are working to address the issues and ensure adequate dedicated expert technical resources are put in place to manage the process over the coming years.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how the Eirspan bridge management system is currently used to assess the suitability of bridges and structures for abnormal and exceptional abnormal load movements; if promoters and hauliers can access or obtain relevant capacity data to inform route selection in advance of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65101/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the Eirspan bridge management system.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a formal protocol, working group or memorandum of understanding between his Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, EirGrid and ESB Networks regarding the planning and permitting of very heavy loads associated with strategic energy infrastructure, including transformers, generators and related equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65102/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Traditionally, Abnormal Load Applications to Local Authorities in Ireland were for loads below 180 tonnes, and usually below 150 tonnes. In recent years, energy sector requirements mean requests for the movement of exceptionally heavy abnormal loads have increased significantly, and are expected to continue. Numerous loads programmed to be moved over the coming years are far in excess of 180 tonnes, with some large generators identified by the energy sector as up to 570 tonnes.

This puts significant pressure on Ireland’s road and bridge infrastructure. Modern bridge structures have been designed to accommodate loading of 180 tonnes; numerous ‘legacy’ bridges have a design loading significantly lower than 180 tonnes.  Consequently, additional structural assessment requirements apply to heavy loads and particularly loads over 180 tonnes to help protect road assets and the safety of road users.

Despite large loads such as transformers being ordered 2-3 years before delivery, developers and promoters, have to date, little or no early engagement in advance consultation with stakeholders and have submitted late requests to transport these exceptional loads.  Some exceptional loads are being ordered with no consideration for route selection and no guarantee they can be delivered to their destinations.  This is currently causing unnecessary project delay and risk.

As a result, Department of Transport Circular RW18/2024 was issued to clarify this assessment process, which is needed both to protect state infrastructure and to assist applicants in the management of exceptionally heavy abnormal loads. The circular sets out the process for compliance with structural assessment standards and provides applicants with additional clarity. The Department of Transport keeps all circulars under review and issues notifications where updates or clarifications are required.

Through stakeholder engagement with the Road Sector and Energy Sector a Local Authority Central Support Unit has been identified to coordinate delivery of its infrastructure going forward.  This would include the assessment and delivery of exceptional abnormal loads with adequate dedicated expert technical resources in place to manage the process over the coming years.  The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is currently considering resource and funding requirements for this Central Support Unit.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has assessed the typical costs incurred by promoters in preparing applications for exceptional abnormal loads, including bridge surveys and independent checks; if he will examine options such as a centrally maintained national capacity map or shared survey data to reduce duplication and cost, particularly for repeat routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65103/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Stakeholder engagement with the Road Sector and Energy Sector has identified the need for a Local Authority Central Support Unit to help the energy sector to coordinate delivery of its infrastructure going forward. This would include the assessment and delivery of exceptional abnormal loads with adequate dedicated expert technical resources in place to manage the process over the coming years.

A central support unit could potentially identify preferred routes and manage a repository of bridge assessments and condition surveys, which may avoid unnecessary duplication in the future. This would largely depend on both the application approver and promoter accepting the validity of previous assessments and the promoter’s insurers accepting the resulting liability. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is currently considering resource and funding requirements for this Central Support Unit.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

247. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has benchmarked Ireland’s permitting process and timelines for abnormal and exceptional abnormal loads against best practice in other EU member states and the UK, including the use of electronic permitting systems, standardised time limits and designated heavy-load networks, if lessons from that benchmarking exercise have been or will be applied to streamline the Irish regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65104/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Exceptional Abnormal Loads can cause significant damage and deterioration to pavements, bridges and bridge components along the Irish road network. The presence of these vehicles and loads will increase over time and pose a significant risk to the road transport network, in particular where overloading and potential damage can be caused to bridge structures and other pieces of infrastructure such as water mains, and gas mains. Due to their age and service life in Ireland, some bridges have experienced deterioration over their lifetime and are particularly vulnerable to extreme load events due to their reduced capacity over time. Medium span bridges and ageing structures are particularly vulnerable, but even modern bridges in Ireland have not been designed to carry such exceptional abnormal loads.

Systems are being developed to address movement of these exceptional loads in as safe a manner as possible and considering the protection of the network and international practice.

Each individual Local Authority (LA) has responsibility for the issuing of Abnormal Load Permits in their administrative area in accordance with in S.I. No. 5/2003 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003.

An Abnormal Load Working Group has been established to review the current Abnormal Load Permitting process with a view to moving the application process to a single application and payment system for Road Hauliers. Membership of this group includes representatives from the Local Authority Sector, Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, An Garda Síochána, and the Road Management Office.

The single application and payment point is currently being developed through the MyCoCo digital solution platform which is a collaboration between Local Authorities and supported by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). This initiative arose from the national “Connecting Government 2030” program, which aims for 90 per cent of public services to be delivered online by 2030, and has been noted as a building block of reform in the “Better Public Services - Public Service Transformation 2030 Strategy”.

This group is currently preparing to run a pilot with a haulier across a number of LA’s to prove the system and if successful make recommendations for implementation to the CCMA through the LGMA ICT Committee, in early 2026. The working group is also looking at technical requirements for the abnormal load application form and LA requirements for application decision timelines, conditioning applications, notifying applicants of issues, and issuing decisions. Areas such as the Escort Requirements (European Guidelines for Escort Vehicles) and legislative enforcement are also being considered in consultation with AGS. The group will also make recommendations for further work.

A separate Local Authority Central Support Unit has been identified as a requirement to centrally manage and support the movement of these exceptional loads. This would include the assessment and delivery of exceptional abnormal loads with adequate dedicated expert technical resources in place to manage the process over the coming years. A central support unit could potentially identify preferred/designated routes, manage a repository of bridge assessments and condition surveys, recommend strengthening works to avoid overbridging, and impose max loads across the network based on structural assessments. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is currently considering funding requirements for this Central Support Unit.