Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 130: To ask the Minister for Transport when he envisages that the 14 newly appointed transport inspectors will be able to fully discharge their duties in tandem with An Garda Síochána under the auspices of the Road Safety Authority; when he will introduce legislation to close the legislative loophole and allow the heavy goods vehicle inspectors to work at roadside checkpoints; the number of HGVs found to have technical faults or to be unroadworthy in 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; the deadline for the implementation of each of the RSA's recommendations on improving the road worthiness of the HGV fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23275/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A technical amendment to both the Road Transport Act 1986 and the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 is required to enable recently recruited transport officers of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to fully discharge their functions in relation to the enforcement of road transport and related legislation. I will propose to the House that this problem be rectified in the concluding stages of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill this week, provided that will not now slow up the enactment of that Bill.

Responsibility for vehicle standards and testing was transferred to the Road Safety Authority in September 2006, under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006).

I have accepted recommendations from the RSA for reforming the roadworthiness testing regime and for addressing a number of other related issues. The RSA is working on a detailed implementation plan with specific actions to be taken to give effect to the reform programme.