Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 657: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a lower rate of National Car Test charge for owners of vehicles over ten years old in view of the fact that these vehicles must be tested every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9245/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As and from 1st June 2011, all vehicles of ten years of age or over will be required to undergo an annual national car test. This measure was introduced on road safety concerns, on foot of proposals submitted by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to my predecessor. The test fee is set in accordance with a contractual agreement between the RSA and the private company that carries out the testing service, Applus. A lower test fee would result in the State having to pay a subsidy to Applus and, in the present economic climate, I have no plans to introduce a measure that would have such a consequence.