Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. The testing function is carried out by Applus, since January 2010, under a contractual arrangement with the RSA. The Authority exercises a supervisory role to ensure the service is provided in line with the Project Agreement. The RSA, in conjunction with its Supervisory Services Contractor, continuously monitors a comprehensive package of measures aimed at ensuring the integrity and consistency of testing within the National Car Test (NCT).
The RSA has met with Applus and the Garda Síochána to deal with the issues and corrupt activities highlighted by the recent Prime Time programme and to identify the appropriate action to be taken. The RSA has informed my Department that Applus has undertaken an internal investigation and the 7 vehicle inspectors who were identified as a result of the programme and internal analysis were suspended, 3 have now been dismissed. A review of the regulation of the taxi sector will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The Terms of Reference of the review will be announced shortly and it will ensure that the views of both the taxi sector as well as the interest of consumers can be addressed.