Vol. 512 No. 3
256 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason there is no car testing centre located in the Belmullet area of County Mayo in view of the fact that the area is the size of County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25956/99]
The invitation to tender for the national car test contract specified the desired coverage of the scheme as involving, commensurate with the provision of an economic service, the location of each test centre within 30 miles of 90% of the car owners served by it and within or close to a large town served by national roads.
In accordance with these requirements, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) Limited to whom the contract has been awarded, will establish and operate 43 car test centres countrywide, including centres at Ballina and Westport.
