Department rejects EU ruling affects 'super-trucks'

The Department of Transport has rejected a report that an EU court ruling may force the State to accept so-called super-trucks on its roads.

A spokeswoman told ireland.comthe decision last week by the European Court of Justice to overturn a ban in Austria's Tyrol region on trucks of over 7.5 tonnes related only to weight and had no bearing on height restrictions.

She said the current EU height directive obliged member states to allow vehicles of four metres or less operate within their jurisdiction.

But individual member states could place restrictions on vehicles higher than four metres, she said.

The Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Ivor Callely, is considering whether or not to impose a height restriction in this jurisdiction.

Dublin City Council plans to ban heavy goods vehicles from the city centre during the day after the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel next year.

Super-trucks cannot fit into the Dublin Port Tunnel - which has an operational height of 4.65 metres.

It was reported that the European Court of Justice's ruling may force the Government to allow these trucks to travel through the city frustrating the council's plan.

The European Court of Justice ruled that the ban on vehicles above 7.5 tonnes in weight by Austria Tyrol regional government - on environmental grounds - obstructed the free movement of goods between EU member states and was illegal under European law.

EU law obliges member states to accommodate vehicles of up to 44 tonnes.