Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
260 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the main difficulty with car registration plates here, which causes them to be one of the main reasons for cars failing the NCT in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26258/04]
View answerThe specifications for registration plates, including dimensions, colours, characters and character dimensions are statutory requirements in accordance with the Vehicle Registration and Taxation (Amendment) Regulations 1999, which were made by the Revenue Commissioners.
A registration plate that does not meet the specifications constitutes a reason for refusal of an NCT test certificate. This position has been strongly endorsed by the Garda authorities.
261 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the measures he intends to take to deal with numerous complaints made by members of the public with the national car test in particular the inconsistencies in the pass and failure rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/04]
View answerThe car testing contract requires National Car Testing Service Limited, NCTS, to carry out testing to specified performance standards covering test integrity, quality assurance, premises, test equipment, staff, public information and customer service. As required by the contract, NCTS has a customer charter and operates a complaints and appeals procedure for dealing with customer complaints. The level of complaints is small relative to the volume of cars tested each year by the company. In 2003, some 961 complaints were received, representing less than 0.1% of all tests. Customer service is monitored by the supervision services contractor and consistently exceeds the contract performance index.
The national car test, NCT, was introduced in order to implement the requirements of EU Directive 96/96/EC relating to the roadworthiness testing of passenger cars. The directive specifies the items to be tested as part of a vehicle test. The NCT reflects both the requirements of the directive and those laid down in national regulations relating to the standards, which a vehicle must meet for use on a public road.
As part of my round of meetings with agencies in the areas under my aegis I intend to meet representatives of NCTS to discuss general issues and I will reflect on the complaints and appeals procedure. While I am conscious of concerns on certain matters, I believe they are minor in the overall context.
262 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, as proposed, the ten year contract awarded to the national car testing service, will be reviewed when it reaches its mid-term point at the end of 2004; when this work will begin; the person who will carry out this review; if its finding will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26261/04]
View answerThe car testing contract provides for a mid-term review to take place five years into the contract. The review will be carried out by my Department in conjunction with the supervision services contractor that assists with the supervision of the national car testing service. In accordance with the contract, the review will commence after 4 January and will be completed during 2005. The review will involve a public consultation dimension and the outcome will be published with copies of the final report being available in the Oireachtas Library.
