Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Car Test.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

693 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the failure rate of national car tests by depot and age of owner; the failure rate for reports; his views on whether it makes sense to fail vehicles for insignificant imperfections, for example, 2% on a back brake deficiency; and his further views on vehicles failing on emissions and passing after a can of additive is added without any mechanical works. [20040/00]

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

Information on the failure rate of cars undergoing the initial national car test is set out in the tables below. The information is given by testing centre and by age of car. Criteria for the testing of emission and service brake efficiency levels reflect the standards and tolerances set out in EU Directive 96/96/EC and are mandatory.

Failure Rate by Test Centre–Based on testing since 31 July, 2000

Testing Centre	Failure Rate %
Abbeyfeale	49
Arklow	53
Athlone	50
Ballina	53
Derrybeg	50
Deansgrange	56
Cahir	44
Cahirciveen	41
Carlow	47
Carrick-on-Shannon	63
Castlerea	61
Testing Centre	Failure Rate %
Cavan	62
Charleville	46
Clifden	48
Cork	46
Northpoint	60
Donabate	55
Fonthill	61
Donegal	59
Drogheda	64
Dundalk	58
Ennis	53
Enniscorthy	54
Galway	48
Kilkenny	45
Killarney	47
Letterkenny	52
Limerick	58
Longford	58
Macroom	51
Monaghan	60
Mullingar	55
Kells	61
Nenagh	46
Naas	64
Portlaoise	54
Skibbereen	55
Sligo	78
Tralee	44
Tullamore	65
Waterford	54
Westport	51
Youghal	58

Failure Rate by age of car–Based on testing since

29 February, 2000

Year	No. Tested	No. Failed	Fail %
1991	44,538	20,706	46.5
1990	49,152	25,294	51.5
1989	36,004	20,567	57.1
1988	21,630	12,667	58.6
1987	12,025	7,373	61.3
1986	7,934	4,879	61.5
1985	4,833	3,103	64.2
1984	2,098	1,397	66.6
1983	929	614	66.1
1982	688	483	70.2
1981	550	373	67.8
1980	311	222	71.4
1979	182	120	65.9
1978	157	104	66.2
1977	138	85	61.6
1976	66	45	68.2
1975	54	36	66.7
1974	78	54	69.2
1973	126	86	68.3
1972	79	47	59.5
1971	37	24	64.9
1970	15	9	60.0