Vol. 544 No. 5
143 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason taxi and hackney owners in County Mayo have to take their vehicles to either Galway or Sligo for regular testing; the reason this service not is available in the NCT test centres in Westport and Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29351/01]
Testing of vehicles for the purpose of issuing the certificates of suitability that are required in order that the vehicles may be licensed as small public service vehicles is carried out at some 20 NCT test centres countrywide. The locations of these test centres were determined by the national car testing service on the basis of providing an economic service taking account of projected demand and the costs of providing such a service. The level of service is being kept under review by the company. I am informed by the national car testing service that it is their intention to be in a position to offer suitability tests for small public service vehicles at both the Westport and Ballina NTC centres early in the new year.
Subsequent to the issue of a certificate of suitability, annual road worthiness tests for the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence in respect of a vehicle may be carried out in any one of the 43 NCT centres country-wide, including the Ballina and Westport centres.
Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 142.
