CIE & Rationalisation The Transport Act, 1944 established Córas Iompair Éireann and CIE and dissolved the Great Southern Railways and Dublin United Transport Company Limited. Their undertakings were transferred to CIE. Later, in 1945 following the fall of the previous minority government and the Transport Bill (due a pending investigation in on stock market irregularities) legislation was passed to compulsorily acquire the Great Southern Railways. […]
Older Legislation Merchandise road transport is subject to licensing under the Road Transport Act 1933. This has been superseded by the above legislation but some parts remain in force. Merchandise road transport is the carriage for reward of goods in a mechanically propelled vehicle on vehicles drawn by the same. It does not include carriage of merchandise by passenger road service licence under the Road […]
Agencies The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Act gives effect to the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). The Department of Transport, Minister for Justice, National Authority for Occupational Health and Safety and Radiological Protection of Ireland are authorities for the purpose of the legislation. They may appoint persons to be inspectors under the legislation. Road Safety Authority […]
Dublin Transport Authority The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 sought to ensure the delivery of Transport 21 investment and the provision of an integrated transport system in the Greater Dublin area. The area covered includes the four Dublin local Authority areas Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. The Dublin Transport Authority (later the National Transport Authority) is established under the Act. The legislation sets out its general […]
NTA The National Transport Authority or NTA is the transport authority for Greater Dublin and the public transport licensing agency for Ireland. It was established under the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act (2008) and the Public Transport Regulation Act (2009), on 1 December 2009. The NTA took over certain functions from the Department of Transport and the entire role of the Dublin Transportation Office. The […]
Taxi Regulation Act Taxi Regulation Act 2013 restates and revises the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. It seeks to strengthen enforcement, including in particular managing disqualifications from holding a licence on conviction of certain offences, suspension and revocation of a licence or refusal having regard to the suitability of the applicant, including, in particular, a conviction for certain relevant offences or breaches of taxi regulation; fixed […]
The National Transport Authority is licensing authority for the purpose of the legislation. The Garda Síochána was licensing authority for the purpose of PSV (public service vehicle) licences for drivers until an order is made under the legislation transferring the licensing function. It is an offence to provide small public service vehicle services without a licence. A person may not drive or use a vehicle […]
Common Carriers Persons and entities which carry goods or passengers for hire or gratuitously are described as carriers at common law. There are common carriers and private carriers. A common carrier is an ancient concept referring to a person who exercises the business of carrying goods or passengers by land water or both. The same criteria applied to common carriers, whether of goods or persons. […]
School Wardens A Council may, with the consent of the Garda Commissioner, make arrangements for the patrolling by persons referred to as school wardens employed or nominated by them at places where school children cross public roads. A school warden may exhibit such sign as may be prescribed requiring traffic to stop or remain stopped so as to enable school children to cross the road […]
EU Regulation EU regulations regulate the business of road transport operators. The purpose is to provide EU-wide rules and a level playing field for businesses. The Department of Transport is the regulator in Ireland. An operator’s licence is an authorisation to pursue the occupation of road transport operator under the regulations. A community (EU) licence authorises an operator to operate throughout the EU. They would […]
VRT The duty of excise called Vehicle Registration Tax is charged and levied on the registration of a vehicle and on declarations of conversions. The tax is due on registration. It may be paid by certain authorised persons such as manufacturers, importers persons who registers the vehicle, persons who convert it, persons who have in their possession a converted vehicle. The duty of excise depends […]
Register The VRT legislation is found in the Finance Act 1992, Part 2, as amended. There have been amendments virtually annually since the legislation was first enacted. There has been a good deal of regulations made under the legislation. The Revenue has produced a quasi-consolidation. The Revenue Commissioners establish and maintain a register of all vehicles in the State. The Commissioners may enter particulars of […]
Ancillary Disqualification An ancillary disqualification order may be made when a person is convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts in relation to a mechanically propelled vehicle or its driving or in a crime in which a vehicle was used. The disqualification is an addition to any other penalty that may be declared. The disqualification order may be appealed to the Circuit Court. […]
Carriers Act The Carriers Act 1830 sought to protect common carriers carrying parcels with articles of significant value. The Act provides that no common carrier by land is to be responsible for damage to articles of the property of certain descriptions contained in a parcel or package delivered to the carrier to be carried for hire or a person who is a passenger in a […]
Conduct Regulations The National Transport Authority was formed from the amalgamation of various transport regulatory bodies in 2009. It took over the functions of the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, which had been formed in 2003. Prior to this, licensing of the taxi industry was undertaken directly by Garda Síochána. The Authority may make regulations in relation to the conduct, general behaviour, deportment and duties of […]
NTA Regulatory Powers The National Transport Authority was formed from the amalgamation of various transport regulatory bodies in 2009. It took over the functions of the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, which had been formed in 2003. Prior to this, licensing of the taxi industry was undertaken directly by Garda Síochána. The Authority has the power to make regulations in relation to the licensing ownership control […]
Electronic freight transport information SUMMARY OF: Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information The regulation establishes a legal framework that allows economic operators to share with enforcement authorities information in an electronic format concerning the transport of goods by road, rail, inland waterways and air in the European Union (EU). Application The regulation applies to regulatory information requirements on the transport of goods set […]
Tachographs in road transport It sets out the requirements on the construction, installation, use, testing and control of tachographs* used in road transport in the European Union (EU). Tachographs must be installed in all vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes transporting goods by road, and in vehicles that can carry more than 9 people (including the driver), with certain exceptions. Digital tachographs record the following data: […]
Coach and Bus Services There are common EU rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services. Where the carriage takes place between EU and non-EU state, the regulation applies to the part of the journey within the EU territory crossed in transit. It is not applicable to the part of the journey and the territory of the EU country of loading or […]
Authorisation There are common rules for access to the market in the international carriage of goods by road within the EU. International carriage is undertaken subject to possession of a Community licence. A Community licence may be issued by an EU state to any haulier carrying goods by road for hire or reward which is established in that state and is entitled to carry out […]
Vehicles There is an EU directive on the dimensions and maximum weight authorised for national and international traffic. Member states may not authorise normal use on roads of goods that are outside the characteristics set in the legislation apart from standards relating to maximum height. Vehicles exceeding the maximum dimensions may only be used on the roads if a special authorisation is received. States may […]