Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Transport when the 14 newly appointed transport inspectors will be able to fully discharge their duties in tandem with the 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. [29032/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As was indicated in reply to Question No. 130 of 17 June 2008, 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. An amendment to rectify this problem was proposed and accepted by the Dáil during its recent consideration of the Dublin Transport Authority Bill. That Bill has now been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.

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).

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