Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of heavy goods vehicles registered for use here; the amount of heavy goods vehicles inspected in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7924/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Transport the frequency of roadworthiness testing for LGVs and HGVs; the key components of such testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 325 together.

All goods vehicles are liable to roadworthiness testing when they are one year old and every year thereafter. Testing is carried out by authorised testers appointed by city and county councils. The items to be tested, the method of testing and the reasons for refusal of a certificate of roadworthiness are set down in vehicle test manuals which are published by the Department of Transport.

Some 131,000 roadworthiness tests were carried out on heavy goods vehicles and their trailers in 2004, the latest year for which data is available in the Department of Transport. The Revenue Commissioners are responsible for the registration of motor vehicles while data on the number of vehicles licensed for motor tax is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of haulage vehicles which are before the licensing division within the Department of Transport awaiting the processing of their applications; if a backlog exists; the length of time each application takes to process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The current number of licence applications on hand in the road transport operator licensing division of the Department of Transport is 92. Once an application is submitted with the necessary supporting documentation in order, it can normally be processed within ten working days. At the present time, it is taking an extra day or so to process applications.

The number of applications for amendment to vehicles on licences in the division is 214. The processing of amendments to existing applications, with the necessary supporting documentation in order, is currently taking a number of weeks. However, overall this is a speedier process than previously, from a HAULIER'S perspective, as arising from new arrangements introduced last autumn, it is no longer necessary to go to the Garda Síochána to have a plate issued in respect of every vehicle as the Department of Transport is now issuing the transport discs in place of vehicle plates.