Bernard Allen
Ceist:318 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will waive a charge on a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding tests on his car. [19782/01]
Written Answers. - National Car Test.
The regulations governing the operation of the national car test prescribe that a retest must be carried out on a day, which is not more than four weeks, 28 days, from the day on which the test certificate was refused. Outside of this period, a full test must be carried out and the standard test fee is chargeable.
The national car test is operated under a public private partnership between the National Car Testing Service and my Department. Under that agreement, no competence is assigned to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to waive test fees or to direct the National Car Testing Service to waive fees.
I understand that the rule regarding the 28-day period is brought to the attention of car owners in a number of ways, including a reference to it appearing at the bottom and again on the reverse of each test report. The NCTS also operates a complaints and appeals system which is available to those who are unhappy with the service provided.