Vol. 530 No. 4
153 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether it is reasonable that a local authority (details supplied) is being asked to provide, on an ongoing basis, a premises free of charge to facilitate the provision of a mobile car testing unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4189/01]
The tender documents for the award of the contract for the provision of car testing facilities required each test centre to be located within 30 miles of 90% of the car owners that it would serve and also required testing to be carried out on a self-financing basis at no cost to the Exchequer. The contract was awarded to National Car Testing Service Limited on that basis and I am satisfied the 43 test centres operated by the company meet the specified travelling distance requirement. The test fees are set by reference to costs incurred by the company in meeting the required service levels. Consequently the provision of additional test centres would result in additional costs to the company and these could result in increases in the test fees to motorists in general.
Following representations to me, the company was asked to investigate the possibility of providing additional facilities to serve car owners in Inishowen. Because of the difficulties in identifying suitable available locations for a test centre and conscious of the additional costs, the company approached Donegal County Council about the availability of a suitable site. I understand that discussions are continuing between the local authority and the company on the subject.
