Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason a vehicle failed a national car test by not having the name of the county in Irish on the number plate; and if it is an unnecessary provision in view of the reason for introducing the test. [15530/04]

Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The format, dimensions and technical specifications of registration plates for display on motor vehicles are provided for in the Vehicle Registration and Taxation (Amendment) Regulations 1999 and were made by the Revenue Commissioners. The regulations provide, inter alia, that a registration plate shall exhibit the index mark and placename of the relevant licensing authority. They also specify that the placename to be used for each of the 29 licensing authorities shall be the Irish version of the county concerned. The requirements for index marks and placenames are long-standing and date back to the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

A check on the registration plate to establish whether it complies with statutory requirements has been part of the test since its introduced in 2000. No charge is made by the service for a retest where a vehicle fails because of an inadequate registration plate.