Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 December 2007
15 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the report on his Department’s investigation into the presence of vehicles that have been classified as total write-offs and unfit for road use on Irish roads; if he will reform the National Vehicle Driver File in view of these allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32778/07]
View answer25 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take to address the situation of potentially thousands of dangerous crashed cars being put back onto Irish roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32946/07]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 25 together.
As I indicated in reply to a similar questions put down by Deputy Broughan on 18 October and Deputy English on 23 October last the arrangements covering the treatment and notification of write-offs are being examined by the RSA, the Garda Siochana, the Revenue Commissioners who are responsible for the registration of vehicles and my Department in its role in relation to the NVDF. This examination which is still ongoing includes an intensive exercise involving the matching of data held by insurers, where this is made available, against the NVDF records to discover if there are gaps in the information on the NVDF. The verification process is made more difficult given that it is not obligatory on insurance companies to provide the data.
If the examination reveals that there are deficiencies in the current arrangements, appropriate action will be taken. This would include adjustments to the procedures for notifying and recording on the NVDF, appropriate verification of identity and roadworthiness where vehicles are returned to use and legislative changes, if warranted.
