Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 20th December, 2011.

I, LEO VARADKAR, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 12 of the section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 (No. 23 of 2006) and for the purposes of giving further effect to Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996¹ , hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Weight Laden of 5 Axle Articulated Vehicles) Regulations 2011.

2. Regulation 14(2) of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 5 of 2003 ) is amended by substituting "31 December 2014" for "31 December 2011".

3. The Road Traffic (Weight Laden of 5 Axle Articulated Vehicles) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 315 of 2011 ) are revoked.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

15 December 2011.

LEO VARADKAR,

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide that, until 31 December 2014, the weight laden of a combination of a 2 axle tractor unit and a 3 axle semi-trailer may exceed 40 tonnes but shall not exceed 42 tonnes.

1 O.J. No. L 235, 17.9.96, p.59