Vol. 560 No. 1
770 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport the number of DOE testing centres there are nationwide; his plans to increase the number of centres; if there are plans to set up centres in County Mayo in the future; if so, if they will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1425/03]
The appointment of authorised testers for vehicle testing is a function of city and county councils in accordance with the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 1991 to 2002. My Department has no involvement in such appointments, but provides the general regulatory and administrative framework for the operation of commercial vehicle testing.
The main practical requirements for appointment as an authorised tester are as follows: an application form should be submitted to the local authority in whose functional area the proposed test centre will be located – the current application fee is €95.23; the applicant must have or have access to suitable premises and equipment, in accordance with standards set out in guidelines on premises and equipment, available from local authorities, and the premises and equipment are subject to inspection by an authorised officer of the local authority; and subsequent to an appointment, testing must be carried out by suitably qualified mechanics who have received appropriate training approved or supervised by an authorised officer of the Minister.
At present there are 112 centres authorised for the testing of light goods vehicles with 117 centres authorised for the testing of heavy goods vehicles.
