Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce primary or secondary legislation to set higher standards for the testing of heavy goods vehicles in view of the high percentage of Irish trucks found to be in breach of standards in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24276/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Commercial vehicle testing is currently provided by independent garages around the country, supervised and regulated by the local authorities. A review of these arrangements was undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The Report of that review, which has been submitted to me, includes among its proposals the recommendation that the Road Safety Authority, rather than the Local Authorities, is best placed to manage future service delivery and that the function of supervision and regulation of the network of garages should be transferred to the RSA from the local authorities. Subject to finalising the necessary consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on this recommendation, I intend to conclude my consideration of the PWC report and respond to the Road Safety Authority in the coming weeks.