Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to debate the Road Safety (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 which overhauls the system for testing the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles and permits the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to assign new functions in this area to the RSA. In addition, the driving licence system will be centralised and transferred from local authorities to the RSA. The Bill is the latest road safety measure introduced as part of the Government's road safety strategy.

Following the bus crashes in Kentstown, County Meath and Clara, County Offaly in 2005 and 2006, the RSA was asked to carry out a comprehensive review of the arrangements for the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles. This review highlighted a wide number of issues with the testing system. Commercial vehicles are required to undergo a roadworthiness test at an authorised testing centre annually. Commercial vehicle testing is undertaken by 158 independent operators using a variety of test facilities, supervised and regulated by 30 public bodies with limited enforcement activities. In these circumstances, it is almost impossible to achieve consistent high-quality testing and assurances that the commercial fleet is in a roadworthy condition. The use of a single authority to monitor and enforce standards is considered the best means of ensuring consistent practices, streamlined procedures, clearer communication channels and greater accountability within the service.

To date in 2012, there have been significantly fewer road deaths than at the same stage in 2011. As of 17 April 2012, 46 people have died on Irish roads in the year, 13 fewer than the same period in 2011. Testing must be carried out in a consistent, impartial and correct fashion at all times. There will be continuous compliance with roadside inspections with the assistance of An Garda Síochána, along with the introduction of intelligence-based monitoring of the sector and risk-based targeting of commercial vehicle roadworthiness by the Road Safety Authority and Garda. The test centres will also operate on a risk basis.

Under EU licensing Directive 2006/126, all member states are required to introduce a plastic card driving licence in January 2013. Currently, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has overall responsibility for driving licences, whereas the RSA has operational oversight and a policy advisory role. The RSA role includes liaising with EU representatives on driving licence matters at EU level. There are 29 licensing authorities - motor tax offices - around the country and the new rules to be introduced are designed to reduce fraud, guarantee a true freedom of movement for EU drivers and reinforce safety on European roads.

Improving road safety is one of the main objectives of the driving licence legislation. The implementation of a single model throughout the European Union will ensure greater security, and it was agreed by the Department and the RSA that the introduction of a new form of licence would provide an opportunity to review the existing licence issuing system and whether greater efficiencies and effectiveness could be achieved. The review was overseen by a steering committee comprising the representatives of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the RSA and the Garda Síochána. The report recommended that the driving licence system should be modernised through centralising the functions in one authority. In May 2011, the Government approved the decision to move the centralised model of driving licences to the RSA.

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