Vol. 406 No. 2
6 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce compulsory vehicle testing in Ireland, especially in view of the dangers of accidents caused by defective vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
46 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any proposals to introduce a compulsory motor vehicle test for cars over seven years old; and, if so, when.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 46 together.
The position on vehicle testing as set out in reply to Question No. 43 of 28 November last is unchanged.
Is the Minister aware that over half the cars on Irish roads are over five years old and that we have the third highest incidence of road deaths in Europe? A strong case has been made by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry for the introduction of compulsory vehicle testing. In 1988, 8,900 people were killed or injured on our roads. There were 490 deaths. Does the Minister not consider that it is time to make a positive commitment to vehicle testing?
I have heard this case made before and I decided to check out some of the remarks made by the Deputy on a previous occasion. Some interesting statistics have come to hand. The biggest single factor in 90 per cent of road accidents is human behaviour, principally of drivers and involving speeding, drink driving and so on. Vehicle defects cause or contribute to perhaps less than 10 per cent of road accidents, according to an EC study. The statistics furnished to me by the Irish Insurance Federation suggest that third party insurance claims decline as the age of the insured vehicle increases. The Deputy's argument does not hold water.
It does.
Be that as it may, it is a matter for discussion at EC level in the not too distant future.
Will the Minister confirm that Ireland is the only state in Europe which does not have a compulsory MOT test on cars of a certain age? Would he agree that this proposal could lead to substantial job creation? Would he also agree that it is more urgent that ever, given the huge level of Japanese second hand car imports which are increasing the problem of the older car stocks?
It is a matter for discussion and consideration at EC level. The Transport Ministers will be discussing it in the not too distant future. We have a programme involving a step by step approach. Vehicle testing will be extended to light goods vehicles in 1994-5. When that is in place and we see how it progresses we can consider the extension of testing to private cars. Statistics do not back up the view that vehicle defects are the primary cause of accidents.
Why does every other country in Europe have compulsory testing?
Not every other country. A few countries have been resisting. Inevitably we will have to approach this matter over a number of years. Heavy goods vehicles are now subject to a test and testing is planned for light goods vehicles in 1994. After that we will progress towards reaching the target we would like to see.
On the basis of statistical analysis the Minister says that less than 10 per cent of road accidents are caused by defects in motor vehicles. How does one quantify the human and material damage caused by that 10 per cent? Is the Minister aware that in spring 1989 SIMI tested and found——
I must dissuade the Deputy from imparting information.
Is the Minister aware that a test carried out by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry revealed that steering defects constituted 30 per cent of the problems in cars and brake defects constituted 37 per cent? That clearly indicates that there are dangerous cars on our roads and the only way to get them off the road is by regular testing.
We will be heading in that direction. Deputy Bryne and I will not fight about this because we are at one in trying to reduce the level of road accidents. The various measures I announced last August which culminated in the ongoing drink driving campaign, together with a range of other measures which I intend to introduce, are geared to achieve a reduction in the number of road accidents. I am very supportive of the Deputy's attitude in that regard.
Would the Minister not agree that the reason for the large number of defective vehicles is the condition of roads, both national primary and county roads, particularly since he has taken office?
This hardly deals with compulsory vehicle testing.
That is the cause of defective cars.
Potholes and crocks.
Will the Minister say why we have to wait for the EC to bring in regulations? Can we not do anything ourselves? Do we always have to wait for the EC? Why not introduce legislation and deal with EC directives later?
We do not have to wait for EC directives in this matter. There is a pattern in these matters and it is wise to act in conformity with decisions which will apply uniformly across the EC. That is the direction we are going in respect of a lot of other matters and it is a wise thing to do. If an estimation of the care for our roads is to be found in the amount of money provided by a Minister or a Government towards road improvement and maintenance and if this can be used as a yardstick of commitment to the road network, then Deputy Kavanagh should look into his heart.
The local authorities had money when I was in that Department.
I am patching up the mistakes made by his administration.
What is the Minister's reason for not introducing this legislation? Hundreds of vehicles are daily becoming unroadworthy due to the conditions of the roads. That is why he is not prepared to bring in the legislation. One hundred cars were damaged on the N52 last week.
Then the Deputy will be delighted with the the allocation I gave yesterday.
Fifty thousand pounds will not fill the potholes.
I have had a request that Question No. 7 be dealt with by way of written reply. Question No. 8.
