Fianna Fáil Deputy, Robert Troy, has welcomed clarification from the Minister for Transport regarding proposals for a road worthiness test aimed at tractors and agricultural vehicles.
Replying to a question tabled by Deputy Troy, Transport Minister Shane Ross confirmed that the new regulations will be introduced in 2018 as part of an EU directive. The Minister also confirmed to Deputy Troy that the regulations will apply to tractors with a maximum design speed exceeding 40km/h which are being used for commercial road haulage.
“Since news first broke of this new regulation, I have been inundated with calls from the agricultural community right across the constituency,” Deputy Troy said.
“There has been huge concern that this would apply right across the board and that farmers would incur additional costs at a time when profits are already hard to make. I did not want to see a situation where tractors that are used almost exclusively within the farmyard would have to undergo costly repairs and upgrades.”
Minister Ross went on to confirm that there is no requirement on member states to test tractors used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
“I have asked the Minister to consult with the various farming representative bodies to ensure that the farming community is fully informed on what is required of them as a result of this change,” Deputy Troy concluded.
