Vol. 543 No. 2
491 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason a hackney driver cannot have his vehicle approved at the NCT centre in either Athlone or Castlerea; the reason this certification is restricted to the Galway centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26149/01]
I am informed by the national car testing service that the facility to offer tests for the purposes of issuing certificates of suitability for small public service vehicles is being implemented on a phased basis in line with projected demand for such tests and the related training programme for vehicle testers. I understand that the NCT centres at Castlerea, Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford and Mullingar will be providing this service by mid-November.
492 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the roadworthiness test for a hackney car costs twice the amount of that for a private car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26150/01]
A certificate of suitability is required before a small public service licence can be issued for a vehicle. The inspection for such a certificate is intended to establish that the vehicle is suitable for use as a small public service vehicle. As a consequence, it covers a range of items that are additional to those required for the normal NCT inspection and gives rise to extra training, longer test durations and additional administration costs for the national car testing service, NCTS. To take account of these, a fee of £70.00 – 88.88 – fee is payable to the NTCS in respect of the certificate of suitability. A further certificate of suitability is not required for the renewal of a small public service licence. Applications for renewal need be accompanied only by the normal NCT certificate, which costs £37.80 – 48.00.
493 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the roadworthiness inspection for a hackney vehicle has been transferred from the local PSV inspector to a regional NCT test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26151/01]
From the outset of the procurement process for the national car test, it has been envisaged that all roadworthiness testing for cars, including for hackneys and taxis, should be consolidated in one organisation. This approach was favoured because of the perceived benefits of maximising the use of the specialised expertise and equipment, involving considerable capital investment, which would be required for the purposes of the national car test.
The transfer of responsibility for the testing of small public vehicles, including hackneys, from the Garda to the National Car Testing Service Limited was completed in June 2001. The transfer was implemented with the agreement of the Garda Síochána.
