I ask the Government to address the anomaly which has arisen between the national car testing unit and the motor industry regarding changes in the national car test which it is proposed to implement on 1 June 2003.
Car testing has been introduced on a phased basis and, during this phase, failures on certain non-safety critical items do not constitute reasons for refusal of an NCT certificate. They are known in the trade as fail advisory items.
I appreciate and fully understand that the phased implementation of the test has a lot to do with the high level of public support which it enjoys. It helped to avoid excessive failure rates that would have followed had the full rigours of car testing been implemented from day one and which had the potential to seriously undermine public credibility in the system.
The NCT is now firmly established and is helping to change the attitude of car owners towards adopting a more sensible and responsible approach to regular safety checks and servicing of their vehicles. The principal test items which still are classified as "fail advisory" include headlight alignment, the performance of shock absorbers, side slip, type approval markings on windscreens and a number of visual checks, including a check that vehicle registration plates conform to statutory requirements. I understand also that in line with the commitment at the onset of testing all reasons for failure of the NCT would over a three year period become reasons for refusal of a certificate and it is the intention of the Minister to complete the transition this year. I have been informed by the motor industry that regulations to provide for this will be made within the coming weeks.
The changes from "fail advisory" to "fail refusal" now to be introduced is likely to give rise to significant difficulties. The motor industry and the public are gravely concerned at the difficulties and at the cost to motorists. In preparation for the introduction of headlight alignment as a test refusal reason, the Department, the national car testing service and the Society for the Irish Motor Industry have been working closely together to ensure best practice in headlight setting and testing, but to date have not reached an agreed practice. I understand that the national car testing service recognises its responsibility for correct testing of headlights alignment and has invested significant additional resources to upgrade its system through the introduction of laser technology and enhanced training for vehicle inspectors. The kernel of the problem is that on the issue of headlight alignment, the motor industry to date has not reached an agreed standard with the national car testing service. It is in no one's interest to have a situation where uncertainty in the reliability of headlight aim servicing is a real prospect when defective headlighting becomes a reason for refusal of an NCT certificate.
I would like to take the opportunity to ask the Minister to address the problem that has arisen by possibly deferring the new code of practice and at the same time encouraging equipment suppliers, and anyone else in the trade having a role in the headlight alignment, to commit to achieving the Irish standard without delay so that car owners will be sure of getting their headlights set accurately. Otherwise the NCT failure rate will shoot to the sky and bring a major financial burden on motorists.
