Vol. 423 No. 8
7 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for the Environment if he will seek a derogation from the proposed mandatory test to ascertain their roadworthiness in keeping with EC standards for all cars older than four years in the State, in view of the hardship that this could impose on a widespread basis at a time of serious economic recession.
63 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment the likely cost to motorists of the proposed road-worthiness test; the guidelines of road-worthiness, against which the vehicles standard will be measured; and the protection, if any, he will build into the scheme to prevent needless diagnosis of faults designed to generate repair business.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 63 together.
Directive 91/328/EEC of 21 June 1991, requires those member states, including Ireland, which do not have a system of regular roadworthiness testing for cars already in operation to have such a system fully operational by 1 January 1998. It is intended to publish a discussion document, as soon as possible, on the implementation of the directive in Ireland. It would not be appropriate to anticipate the contents of this document pending its finalisation by the Government. Concerns such as those expressed in the questions will, of course, be taken fully into account.
Would the Minister agree that certain requirements here will have to be fulfilled before this directive can be imposed on the Irish motorist? Would the Minister also agree that if car prices had been reduced to the European average, which was supposed to have been achieved in 1992, this would make things easier for car owners? Car insurance on the Continent costs about half what it does here. There is a lack of public transport in most rural areas here which is not the case in most continental countries. Therefore, all families depend on a car. The state of our roads, particularly our county roads, is deplorable. If these were kept to the standard at which they are kept on the Continent perhaps we would not need road tests on cars. The cost of this test at about £45——
Could we have brevity at this time for obvious reasons?
I put it to the Minister that the road test charge plus the garage charges will cause great hardship to people who have no alternative but to use cars whether they are employed or unemployed?
With the exception of five countries—Ireland, Denmark, France, Portugal and Italy—all other European member states have compulsory roadworthiness testing. Obviously economic factors have to be taken into account. However, it is just a question of economics but essentially a matter of road safety. For example, in 1990 the Garda initiated 43,000 prosecutions in Ireland in respect of vehicle defects. These included faulty brakes, lights, bald tyres and so on. As Foras Forbartha indicated in 1975 that 8 per cent of all fatal accidents were as a result of defective vehicles. It is important, certainly from a road safety point of view, that we have testing of vehicles in Ireland. It is also important from a environmental point of view to prevent noise from defective vehicles or additional emissions into the atmosphere disimproving air quality as a result of vehicles emissions equipment not being in order. Those factors have to be taken into account and the Government will certainly do that in the context of the discussion document.
The Society for the Irish Motor Industry have recommended this. The Central Review Committee under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress have recommended this as have the task force on employment. It has been suggested that perhaps 1,100 extra jobs would be created, 300 in vehicle testing and 800 in follow-up repair work although, since there is some under employment in the motor industry, I am not certain that there will be 1,100 additional jobs. The cost of testing a vehicle is estimated at about £30 and not £45 as the Deputy suggested.
One has to get to the testing centre too.
Bearing in mind all factors, particularly road safety and the effects on the environment, these are the matters the Government will take into account and, of course, the cost to motorists will be borne in mind. Many of the defective vehicles on our roads are second family cars or cars in rural areas. That is what the data suggests.
That is because of the potholes.
Seven European countries where they have good roads already have compulsory testing. All of the factors that the Deputy mentioned will be taken into account and a discussion document will be published very shortly by Government.
Will we see a greater effort to put our roads into good order, particularly country roads which are attacting no money from the Department of the Environment? The state of our roads is the reason cars are in such a lamentable state and relatively new cars are being wrecked. The white lines have disappeared from the roads. Local authorities cannot afford to maintain the roads. Surely the first priority of the Department of the Environment should be to make our roads safe before telling everybody else to expend large sums of money which many have not got so that we can comply with a directive.
Resources permitting, the Department and the Government are anxious to improve the quality of our roads. However, it is interesting to note that there are 308,603 cars in excess of eight years old here and that is a substantial number. It is not true to say that we are talking essentially about new cars. We are talking about some very old cars.
Even new cars are being wrecked.
There is a higher percentage of cars over eight years old than cars in the four to eight year-old bracket.
