Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill which represents a major step forward in the reform of the commercial vehicle roadworthiness systems. The Bill was drafted to take account of the key recommendations arising from the review of the tragic bus crashes at Kentstown, County Meath in my constituency and Clara, County Offaly, in which a total of six children lost their lives. Approximately one in five fatal collisions involves a commercial vehicle, but the existing roadworthiness testing systems for such vehicles have remained largely unchanged since 1982.

The Bill which is sponsored by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is one part of a wide-ranging programme of reform relating to commercial vehicle roadworthiness systems and reflects best international practice. The enactment of the legislation will facilitate the transfer of local authorities' functions in respect of the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles, namely, light and heavy goods vehicles and buses, to the Road Safety Authority. The Bill will als reforms the way commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing centres and authorised testers are licensed, in addition to providing greater powers of enforcement through targeted roadside inspections and inspections of commercial operators' premises.

The reform programme will drive a step change in the roadworthiness standards relating to commercial vehicles operating on Ireland's roads. It will save lives and prevent injuries by reducing the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles on the roads. The key benefits of the programme include: reducing congestion and other economic costs to the State; creating a level playing field for Ireland's operators through targeting those who choose not to maintain their fleets in a roadworthy condition; enhancing testing and the testing efficiency of Ireland's network of commercial vehicle and ADR test centres, at which the roadworthiness of vehicles carrying dangerous goods is tested; and ensuring greater compliance in commercial vehicle annual testing.

The legislation will provide a legal basis to deliver the commercial vehicle roadworthiness reform programme and also facilitate the transfer of the management of the testing function from local authorities to the Road Safety Authority, the enhanced performance management of the testing system and the introduction of operator maintenance obligations and enhanced powers for roadside testers in respect of non-compliant vehicles. For the first time, commercial vehicle testing centres across the country will be obliged to comply with a uniform nationwide standard which will be enforced by the Road Safety Authority. In addition to the road safety benefits, the transfer of this responsibility from local authorities to the Road Safety Authority will save in the region of €4.5 million. This will obviously be of benefit to the country in the light of current economic circumstances.

The priority with the Bill is to ensure the safety of passengers, drivers and all other road users. The Bill will ensure the same standards are applied across the country, regardless of where a vehicle is tested. The new system will be more consistent, impartial and, most importantly, accurate. As stated, approximately one in five fatal collisions involves a commercial vehicle. However, the existing system of testing roadworthiness has remained largely unchanged since 1982. The Bill proposes that the Road Safety Authority will assume responsibility for the centralised supervision and licensing of private testing services for commercial vehicles. The new roadside inspections programme will ensure continuous compliance with the relevant standards, including by random checks of vehicles. The provisions in the Bill mean that for the first time there will be a single integrated system to link enforcement, checks of operators' fleets, maintenance records and annual roadworthiness tests. The new system will be more consistent, impartial and accurate. Resources will be targeted at those vehicle operators considered most likely to break the law. However, the Road Safety Authority will ensure those with good track records will continue to be supervised in order that they will maintain the standards they have achieved. The Bill will create a level playing field by ensuring vehicle operators who maintain their fleets will not be placed at a disadvantage vis-À-vis those who break the law.

Thankfully, Ireland is the fifth safest country in Europe in which to drive. The number of people killed on the roads has halved during the past decade. However, the position in this regard can still be improved. The legislation will go a long way towards enhancing and improving Ireland's already good road safety record. I commend the Minister for bringing it forward.

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