Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2013
205. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a system in place to check the roadworthiness of vehicles registered outside of Ireland which travel on Irish roads; if he will report on the number of foreign registered vehicles travelling on roads in the State in a given year; if it is intended to introduce a new system to establish the roadworthiness of such vehicles using Irish roads. [39947/13]
View answerCommission Directive 2009/40/EC as amended, stipulates the minimum roadworthiness testing requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers which all roadworthiness tests throughout the EU must meet. Vehicles registered in each Member State, as well as their trailers, undergo periodic roadworthiness tests in accordance with this Directive. Furthermore, in compliance with Article 3(2), all Member States are obliged to recognise the Certificates of Roadworthiness of vehicles registered in another Member State. This applies to vehicles in use in Ireland but not registered in Ireland, i.e. vehicles used for holidaying, as well as short term or contract work etc.
However, where a vehicle is re-registered as an Irish vehicle, it must go through the NCT once it is four years old or more. This applies even if the vehicle previously received a vehicle test abroad. NCT test certificates are valid until the next test due date, after which the vehicle (if still in Ireland) must be tested again. The enforcement of Road Traffic Regulations, including those relating to the validity of a roadworthiness certificate, is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. As already outlined, given the roadworthiness testing regime already in place it is not intended to introduce a new system to establish the roadworthiness of foreign registered vehicles on Irish roads. With regard to the the number of foreign registered vehicles travelling on Irish roads, statistics of this nature are not maintained.
