Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Transport if left-hand drive cars are treated similarly to right-hand drive vehicles for the purposes of the national car test; if he has satisfied himself that left-hand drive vehicles are appropriate for driving conditions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2960/06]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Transport his view of the roadworthiness and suitability for driving conditions here of the numerous additional left-hand drive cars that have been registered by non-Irish nationals in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2961/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.

The items to be tested, the method of testing and the reasons for failure of the NCT are set out in the national car test, NCT, Manual 2004 published by my Department. Right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles are subject to the same test.

An extensive range of requirements relating to the construction, equipment, lighting and use of the vehicle must be satisfied in order to use a motor vehicle on Irish roads. These requirements are set out in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002, the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 to 2004 and the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 1996. On steering, the regulations provide that a vehicle must be equipped with a strong and efficient steering mechanism which enables the vehicle to be turned easily, quickly and with certainty and which is constructed and arranged that no overlock is possible and that the wheels will not under any circumstances foul any part of the vehicle. There is, however, no obligation for the steering wheel to be on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

At European level, the regulatory framework for vehicle standards is set through a harmonised system of motor vehicle type-approval known as EU-Vehicle Type Approval, VTA. The VTA system facilitates the achievement of a single market for motor vehicles and their components through harmonised safety and environmental standards and, in that regard, standards have been specified in a series of separate EU type-approval directives including standards relating to steering equipment. The type-approval process ensures that new vehicles put on the market meet the safety and environmental standards laid down by the EU. A fundamental principle of the VTA system is that it is not open to a member state of the EU to refuse to register a new vehicle for use on its roads, on grounds relating to a particular vehicle matter, where the vehicle concerned complies with the requirements of the relevant type-approval directive for that matter.

Given Single Market rules, a vehicle which is put into service in one member state is entitled to be used and/or traded in any other member state subject, of course, to its roadworthiness and compliance with other regulatory requirements, for example, VRT and motor tax. Typically, a left-hand drive European vehicle would require adjustments to be made to its headlights and mirrors for it to be used on Irish roads. While the alignment of the headlights is checked as part of the periodic roadworthiness test, it is a matter for the user of the vehicle to ensure that mirrors are correctly set.

Vehicles with left-hand side steering are used in this country by nationals and non-nationals who have imported them temporarily or permanently for their own use, by operators of specialist vehicles including vehicles not manufactured with steering on the right-hand side and by business and recreational visitors. Equally importantly, there are Irish vehicle operators who must use their right-hand vehicles in jurisdictions where left-side steering is the norm.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of major road accidents involving non-nationals since January 2004; the number of fatalities involved; his views regarding the level of left-hand drive cars involved in accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2962/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled Road Collision Facts, relates to 2004 and is available on the NRA website. Reports relating to previous years are available in the Library.

In 2004, 374 people lost their lives in 334 collisions. The 2004 report gives details of the number of cars and goods vehicles involved in fatal and injury collisions classified by the driver's country of residence.

Out of 245 cars involved in such collisions 18 — 7% — were driven by drivers who were resident outside of the State. In respect of goods vehicles, eight out of 90 — 8.8% — were driven by non-residents.

The report does not provide data relating to the number of non-nationals who died in road collisions or the number of left-hand drive cars involved in collisions generally.