Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 4

Written Answers. - Car Testing.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

149 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current position regarding the Government's plans to introduce car testing in view of the recent spate of road fatalities and injuries; when the franchise to operate the new system will be granted; the timeframe which will be allowed to the successful applicant to put in place a fully operational system of testing nationwide; the age group of vehicles it is intended to test in the initial phase of the new system; the plan, if any, there is to expand the system to younger vehicles; and, if so, if he will give details of the plan and the time-frame in this regard. [23445/97]

Minister of State at the Departments of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 59 and 252 of 25 November 1997.

It is intended that car testing will apply to all cars over four years old and that individual cars will be tested every two years. The objective is to have the franchise for the testing scheme appointed by mid-1998. Ability to implement the scheme promptly will be one of the evaluation criteria used to select the franchise.