Vol. 541 No. 5
223 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason all hackney cars in south west Cork are obliged to travel to the testing centre in Little Island, Cork city, to undergo the annual test when a testing centre is available in Skibbereen, County Cork. [23362/01]
Testing of vehicles for the purpose of issuing the certificates of suitability that are required in order that the vehicles may be licensed as small public service vehicles is carried out at some 18 NCT test centres country-wide. The locations of these test centres were determined by the national car testing service on the basis of providing an economic service taking account of projected demand and the costs of providing such a service. The level of service is being kept under review by the company.
Subsequent to the issue of a certificate of suitability, annual roadworthiness tests for the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence in respect of a vehicle may be carried out in any one of the 43 NCT test centres country-wide, including the Skibbereen centre.
