Vol. 513 No. 1
80 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to reduce or waive the cost of the national car test for old age pensioners; the plans, if any, the Government has to assist old age pensioners or those who depend on social welfare payments to alleviate expenses incurred in having their cars repaired as a result of the introduction of the test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1740/00]
114 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused by the national car test to elderly people who find that there are problems with their cars on the first test and who have to return and pay a further £19 after the required work has been carried out; if he will abolish this second payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1599/00]
571 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many old age pensioners whose cars have not passed the national car test are unable to afford a replacement car and are very isolated, particularly those who live in rural areas; if, in conjunction with his Government colleagues, he will consider a scheme to assist pensioners in this situation to maintain their mobility; and the response, if any, he has to these circumstances. [1816/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 114 and 571 together.
The framework for the national car test, which was decided by the previous Government and continued by this Government, involves its operation on a public private partnership and self-financing basis. The NCT is required under EU legislation to provide virtually universal coverage of private vehicles. Accordingly, only minimal exemptions have been granted from its scope.
The contract for the NCT has been awarded on a competitive basis to ensure a high level of service and value for money to its users. The two-yearly test, which costs £35, will provide a high quality diagnostic service using computerised testing equipment. The re-test fee has been fixed at £19.80 where use of test equipment is necessary; otherwise, re-tests will be carried out free of charge.
Private motoring costs have not in the past received public subsidies, apart from VAT-VRT reliefs, motor tax and fuel tax afforded for the benefit of persons with disabilities. I do not consider the introduction of the national car test justifies a departure from the well established principle of non-subsidy of private motoring costs and, accordingly, I do not envisage a change in the current arrangements.
Has the Minister taken into account the impact that the introduction of this NCT is having on older people, particularly in rural areas, on those dependent on cars to get around and those on social welfare? Does he agree that many older people may be forced off the road if they cannot meet the cost of repairing their cars? Has the Department carried out any research into the impact this will have on older or poorer people?
This car test is at an early stage. It commenced on 4 January and it will be April before the legal aspect will be enforced. Its progress will be examined and the situation will be kept under review. The Government decision was made in October 1996 and there was no question in that decision of subsidising the costs for those on low incomes, social welfare recipients or old age pensioners.
The Minister has the chance to do it now.
If there was a practical way to implement measures of that kind and it was justifiable – the Department of Finance would have a say in implementing such a scheme – the self-financing nature of the scheme would mean that the fee would have to be increased to as much as £51. I do not yet know what progress the scheme will make. We should wait a longer period before any major changes are made.
Is the Minister saying that no research was done into the impact on older or poorer people, particularly those in rural areas, before this was implemented? It appears it was done on an ad hoc basis. Does the Minister believe that these people should be helped if they are facing difficulties?
I looked at the files of the previous Government—
The Minister is in Government now.
None of us was here at the time.
—and no consideration had been given. The Government which made the decision to introduce this did not give it consideration.
I remind the Minister that the Government has been in office for longer than the lifetime of the last Government. It is wearing thin that every difficult question is answered with a reference to the last Government. Does the Minister accept that the impact of the national car test, which we all agree is necessary, is bearing heavily on those with low incomes who cannot afford to buy a new car, people who in many cases only use the car for short journeys such as bringing children to school or shopping? Does the Minister have any plans to alleviate the hardship which the car test will inevitably cause those people when it is fully operational under his stewardship?
It is too early to make a judgment about the operation of the scheme. I have no evidence of the kind to which the Deputy referred.
The Minister would not have any such evidence, he does not come across poor people.
That is a facetious and inaccurate statement but I am not surprised by it.
On a point of order, if three questions are taken together, are there 18 minutes for those questions?
No, only two of the questions are for oral answer in Question Time and one is for written answer. There are 12 minutes for these questions.
There were other people offering on Questions Nos. 80, 114 and 571 when we had not used the 12 minutes.
I remind the Deputy that everyone who offered was called. I called Deputy Stanton twice and Deputy Gilmore once.
