Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
610. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans regarding changes for vehicle testing for vintage tractors and old tractors that are used solely for display at vintage rallies and so on and are not operating commercially or on farms; the proposed changes and the costs involved for persons who own these tractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8999/15]
View answer618. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made a decision on the timeframe for the testing of vintage vehicles, on a 30-year rolling basis, and if any qualifying vehicle that is 30 years of age or older would automatically be exempt from testing. [9215/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 618 together.
Under the Government's 2013-2020 Road Safety Strategy, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) was tasked with conducting a review of the roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles to determine the safety case and cost benefits, if any, for inclusion in roadworthiness testing.
The RSA has completed this review which included a public consultation exercise that attracted in the region of 2,000 submissions. The scope of the RSA's review covered those vehicle types for which roadworthiness testing regimes currently exist namely, passenger cars, ambulances, motor caravans, buses, goods vehicles and their trailers. Vintage agricultural tractors were not within its scope and there are no plans to subject them to compulsory roadworthiness testing.
My Department received the RSA's review findings and proposals a number of weeks ago. They will be examined by my officials with a view to submitting recommendations to me which I will consider in due course.
