Road Safety

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Ceisteanna (489, 493)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

489. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the situation in relation to the use of Class I Urban vehicles on motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73889/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

493. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is concerned that the driver of a Class I urban bus is sitting in a vehicle with significantly less frontal crash protection than a coach; if such vehicles should be routinely used on motorways and roads with speed limits in excess of 65KMH; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73895/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 493 together.

As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that, like all buses, class I vehicles must conform with the legislative standards as outlined below. For this reason, I am satisfied that current restrictions to a maximum speed of 65 k/h are sufficient to protect the driver, and furthermore, as the buses are required to meet UN and EU safety standards, I do not see any significant safety issues arising.

Class I buses are referenced in type approval Regulation (EU) 2018/858, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/858/oj/eng, under Categories M2 and M3 where "variant" references the classes in UN Regulation 107, which defines class I buses as class 1 vehicles constructed with areas for standing passengers, to allow frequent passenger movement.

Class 1 standee buses, which are typically the urban buses used by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead in Dublin City Centre, must be limited to 65 kmh, whether in urban areas or on the motorway network.

All new category M vehicles must meet the type-approval requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/858, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/858/oj/eng, and the General Safety Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2019/2144). These regulations set requirements to certify that a model of a vehicle meets all EU safety, environmental and conformity of production requirements before allowing it to be placed on the EU market.

Regulation (EU) 2018/858, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/858/oj/eng, is transposed in Ireland via SI 556/2020 - European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020, www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2020/si/556/made/en/print?q=556. In addition, SI 201 of 2024 amends SI 556/2020 to give full effect to Regulation 2019/2144.