Latest news with #IRHA
Agriland
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Agriland
Motorway access for tractors essential for farming
Access for tractors to Ireland's motorway network is essential to agriculture and road safety, according to the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors In Ireland (FCI). The association was responding to recent calls by the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) to ban tractors from Ireland's motorway network. The IRHA has launched a campaign to 'highlight the dangers that tractors and slow-moving vehicles pose to other road users' on the motorway network. Ger Hyland, IRHA president, said that there are 'no good reasons to allow tractors' to use motorways, adding that currently Ireland is currently 'the only country in the EU' that permits this. FCI However the FCI has stressed the importance of maintaining tractor access to these routes for the sustainability of Irish agriculture and rural communities. Under current regulations, tractors are permitted on motorways in the Republic of Ireland provided they can achieve and maintain a minimum speed of 50 km/hr. The FCI said that this ensures that only modern, roadworthy agricultural vehicles make use of these high-speed routes. The association emphasised that tractors operating on motorways are equipped to meet these standards, ensuring safety for all road users. 'A proposed ban on motorway use for tractors would put further pressure on other kinds of roads which already have a high volume of agricultural machinery in the summer months. 'While the IRHA cites safety concerns as a rationale for the proposed ban, the FCI argues that the presence of compliant tractors on motorways does not inherently compromise road safety. 'Instead, the focus should be on enforcing existing speed and safety regulations for all vehicles to ensure a harmonious sharing of road space,' the association said. Motorways If tractor access is restricted from motorways, the FCI said this could lead to 'longer travel distances, increased fuel consumption, and higher operational costs for farmers'. 'This not only impacts the agricultural economy but also undermines environmental sustainability efforts by contributing to higher carbon emissions. 'Conversely, many motorists experience a range of the safety issues associated with lorries on Irish secondary roads. 'The size and speed of the vehicles necessitates dangerous manoeuvres from lorry operators and motorists when roads are too narrow for both vehicles to pass. 'However, similarly to tractor use of the motorway network it is a necessity for essential work to be completed and FCI calls for road users to be vigilant and safe when sharing Ireland's road network with tractors and lorries,' the association said. The FCI urged policymakers to consider 'the integral role that regulated motorway access plays in the efficiency and viability of Irish agriculture'. 'Collaborative efforts should focus on enhancing road safety through education and enforcement rather than imposing blanket restrictions that could adversely affect the farming community,' it said.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Full list of roads to close for HOURS over bank holiday weekend as Women's Mini Marathon to take place
A NUMBER of major Irish roads are set to close for hours during the Women's Mini Marathon this bank holiday weekend. The annual race is being held this Sunday, 1 June, with over 20,000 participants scheduled to take to the streets of Dublin. 5 Over 20,000 people will take to the streets of Dublin this weekend Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 5 Many roads are due to close with pedestrian access restricted too Credit: Alamy On Sunday at 12:30 pm, the charity race will start from Fitzwilliam Place and then end on Baggot Street. The run, attended by 25,000 people, stretches for 10km through the city. Due to this, there will be significant road closures and diversions over the READ MORE ON MOTORS There are different waves in place for runners to help handle the high volumes of participants. WHITE and PINK waves will enter through the junction of Pembroke Street Upper/Leeson Street Lower. BLUE will enter through the junction of Hume Street/Stephen's Green and this entrance point on Baggot Street. Other coloured waves like YELLOW and GREEN will enter through the junction of Merrion Square West/Merrion Square North and the junction of Hume Street/Stephen's Green. Most read in Motors The routes of 5 Dublin City Council released a list of all roads out of use over the weekend Credit: Dublin City Council 5 Diversions for other traffic will also be in place Credit: Dublin City Council Road closures On Saturday May 31, Herbert Street will be closed from 8 am to 7 pm the following day. Sunday June 1 from 4 am to 7 pm : Herbert Street Herbert Lane Pembroke Row Cumberland Road Fitzwilliam Street Fitzwilliam Place Fitzwilliam Square North Fitzwilliam Square South Wilton Terrace Lad Lane Baggot Street Lower As well as: James's Street East Fitzwilliam Lane Fitzwilliam Street Lower Merrion Square East Merrion Square South Mount Street Upper Stephen's Place Baggotrath Place From 8:30 am to 5 pm: Stephen's Green East Stephen's Green South Stephen's Green North Kevin Street Lower Cuffe Street Merrion Street Upper Pembroke Street Dawson Street Kildare Street From 10 am to 4 pm : Leeson Street Lower Earlsfort Terrace Hatch Street Lower From 11:30 am to 4 pm : Adelaide Road Leeson Street Upper Stillorgan Road (Fosters Avenue to Donnybrook Road) Donnybrook Road Herbert Place Nutley Lane Merrion Road (Ballsbridge to Merrion Gates) Morehampton Road Baggot Street Upper Pembroke Road Meanwhile, a It has been proposed that tractors and other "slow moving The idea has come from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) due to safety concerns being raised. IRHA President Ger Hyland said that Ireland is "the only country in the The maximum motorway speed in Ireland is 120km/h. But tractors can be driven on the same roads as long as it can travel at or maintain a speed of 50km/h, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Hyland said that if Ireland is serious about road safety, they must ban tractors from the fast moving roads. The IRHA has claimed that many of their vehicles are getting stuck behind tractors and slow movers on the motorway. This then leads to congestion and dangerous driving in attempts to overtake. They have urged the government to work with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) to keep tractors off the motorway. Instead, they proposed that the vehicles be kept to regional and local roads. The speed limit on regional roads is typically 80-100km/h, while on local roads it's between 50-80km/h. Hyland said that tractors "cause a build-up of traffic behind them on the motorway", adding that they can cause people to pull into another lane at the last minute to avoid them. He added: "Tractors are a regular sight on our motorways during the summer months, sometimes pulling trailers. "A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. "This is presenting a clear and present danger." 5 The road closures will also affect some bus routes Credit: Getty Images - Getty
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Calls for tractors to be banned from motorways
Tractors must be banned from using motorways to improve road safety, according to truck drivers. The Irish Road Haulage Association is calling on the Government and Road Safety Authority to impose tighter restrictions. Advertisement Currently, the law allows for machinery to use motorways if the vehicle can maintain a speed of 50 kilometres per hour. Farmers say they will oppose any move to drive tractors off motorways. Irish Farmers Association President, Francie Gorman says the journeys tractors undertake on motorways are often short, and farmers need access to the road network. IRHA President Ger Hyland says there's a particular hazard for drivers approaching from behind at speed. "You have a car coming up behind them, and next thing they realise they are too close to the tractor in front. They have nowhere to go, they look to the overtaking lane, and it is full. "So then you have them taking the hard shoulder to overtake the tractor because they cannot stop in time. "If they do jam up on the motorway, you are likely to have a domino effect where one vehicle goes into another behind."
Irish Independent
18-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Truckers fear ‘greatly improved' Holyhead ferry timetable introduced after Storm Darragh is about to be scrapped
They say the new timetable greatly improved ferry services on the Irish Sea and even reduced congestion on Dublin's M50. Now, the two main haulage industry groups on both sides of the Irish Sea have lobbied both governments to ensure the retention of the temporary post-storm timetable because of fears that the ferry companies are set to go back to their old schedule. 'The current schedules should be kept in the interests of efficiency, competitiveness, connectivity and environment,' said a joint letter to Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) and the UK's Road Haulage Association. 'The more dispersed sailing schedules also provides more competition and choice on the key routes and reduces the potential impacts of the increased dominance of any one carrier or port,' said the letter, which was also sent to Tánaiste Simon Harris and Junior Minister Sean Canney, who has responsibility for ports and logistics at the Department of Transport. Prior to Storm Darragh in December, Stena and Irish Ferries crossings ran at almost the same time. Hauliers had previously lobbied for the timetables to be staggered, without success. But after the storm caused extensive damage to a berth at the port of Holyhead, it left just one berth available for Irish Sea services. Following the initial closure of the port a staggered timetable was introduced to allow both ferry companies to continue to operate their ferries while repairs were under way to one of two ramps at the port that trucks use to access ferries. The new schedule means that there is currently a roll-on roll-off ferry sailing to Ireland every 3.5 hours. The repairs are scheduled to be completed in July 2025 and haulier associations are demanding the timetable does not revert to what was in place before the storm. Asked to comment, a spokesman for Stena Line said it 'welcomes the news that with the planned reopening of Terminal 3 at Holyhead Port it will be able to revert to its normal sailing schedule from July 1, 2025.' An Irish Ferries spokesperson said the 'adapted timetable' was in place to allow for a berth-sharing arrangement and that it 'is currently finalising its freight schedule from July 1'. But the hauliers claim this new schedule has worked very well and reduced congestion at the ports. They have also said it has led to more competition and better prices for sailings – which ultimately means better prices for the consumer, 'The new schedule has had a transformative and positive impact on the flow of trade,' said the letter. 'Instead of two ferries leaving at broadly the same time, as happened prior to the storm damage, we now have seven spaced sailings a day leaving both Dublin and Holyhead. 'The more dispersed sailing frequency has led to less congestion at both Holyhead and Dublin Ports, with improved outcomes for traffic flow and customs processing or other regulatory compliance easier to deal with," it added. The increased variety of sailing times between Dublin and Holyhead leads to far better 24-hour connectivity between both Ireland and Britain, they argued. The new timetable has also had big environmental benefits with reduced congestion at the ports – and on the wider road network in Dublin in particular – meaning fewer emissions, they wrote. 'With the sailings from Dublin leaving now at 4am and 8am we have all the HGV traffic off the M50 and the Port Road before rush hour in the morning and likewise with sailings early in the afternoon the HGV traffic is off the M50 before rush hour going home,' said the letter.
Agriland
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
RSA ‘generating chaos' for hauliers and young drivers
Independent TD Carol Nolan has claimed that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is 'generating chaos' for learner drivers and road hauliers due to delays in test waiting times. Nolan said she has written to the new chairperson of the Oireachtas transport committee – Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy – asking him to call senior RSA management to appear before the committee. '[The RSA is] clearly an organisation not fit for purpose, with an increasingly abysmal track record that it generating chaos for learner drivers and industry sectors such as road hauliers,' she said. 'Last year there was a call and indeed an expectation that the RSA would be disbanded, given its failure to tackle the learner waiting time crisis. 'Unfortunately, that came to nothing, with the result that, as of this March, over 81,000 people are waiting for a date for their test. This is a rise of 10,000 from 75,000 who were waiting in February,' Nolan said. She added: 'We have wait times now of, on average, 24.1 weeks… How is that defensible and how is the RSA still in place, given the prolonged nature of this crisis, which is severely disrupting tens of thousands of people on an annual basis.' 'I am also aware that this issue is causing huge concern to organisations such as the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA),' the TD said. According to the IRHA, there were 842,260 learner drivers on Irish roads at the end of March. By comparison, at the end of 2019 there were 233,025 learner drivers on the roads. The IRHA said it obtained this information through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Nolan said: 'For the IRHA and indeed myself this clearly points to a system in crisis. It also points to increased levels of danger on the roads because learner drivers are being forced to make hard choices between travel for work or apprenticeships, or sitting at home with no access to work or education. 'We need a root and branch review of how the system has been brought to this point,' she added. In a statement to Agriland, the RSA said that the driving test system has experienced 'unprecedented demand' in recent years, with the number of applications for a driving test increasing significantly since 2021. The authority said that 253,850 driving tests were carried out in 2024, a record figure for one year. The RSA said that the provision of these tests 'was only possible due to the support of our testing staff through significant levels of overtime and improvements in operational efficiencies'. The RSA also said a campaign for new driver testers was launched following government approval for an increase in permanent sanctioned testers in September 2024. This will increase the number of permanent sanctioned testers from 130 to 200. In 2022, the figure was 100. At the end of February, there were 144 permanent testers employed by the RSA, including 28 who had been temporary testers and who subsequently moved to permanent contracts at the beginning of the year, the RSA said. The Department of Transport told Agriland that, as part of the agreement to boost the number of testers to 200, the RSA is required to restore the 10-week waiting time target.
