David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has reviewed the operation of the national car test; the redress available to members of the public who disagree with decisions of the national car test; the further functions the national car test have been given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The contract with National Car Testing Service Limited (NCTS) provides for a mid-term review of the service by the Minister after the mid-point of the 10-year car testing contract. The purpose of the mid-term review is to review, in detail, the performance of NCTS and assess a range of strategic issues including the location and number of NCT test centres, the content of the test, the quality of the service, and the responses to a public consultation process on the review. The review was carried out by Pricewaterhouse Coopers for my Department last year and their report is currently being considered by my officials. I expect shortly to be in a position to make a decision on the report.

As part of the car-testing contract, NCTS operates a complaints and appeals procedure for customers aggrieved by a decision on a test. This procedure includes provision for an appeal against the result of a test. The grievance procedure was enhanced in 2004 with the introduction of a fully independent appeals procedure for considering unresolved complaints that have exhausted the internal NCTS appeals machinery. The independent assessment of appeals is carried out by the Automobile Association. In addition, it is open to a car owner to appeal a decision of NCTS to refuse a test certificate for a vehicle to the District Court, which may either refuse the appeal or direct that a new test be carried out.

The original contract provided for the Company to carry out periodic roadworthiness testing on passenger cars (including small public service vehicles). Subsequently, the contract was modified to include the carrying out of suitability tests on vehicles for the purposes of licensing as small public service vehicles. In accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, the regulation of small public service vehicles is now the responsibility of the Commission for Taxi Regulation.