Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if gardaí have the power to issue on-the-spot penalties for breaches of the taxi regulations under section 49 of the 2003 Taxi Regulation Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13260/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under Section 49 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 Members of An Garda Síochána are authorised persons for the purpose of enforcement of the 2003 Act. A range of fixed charge offences, which can be issued by authorised persons under Section 46 of the 2003 Act, is set out in the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 722 of 2007). In practice only the enforcement officers of the NTA issue fixed charge notices under these legal provisions.

Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, which will be commenced in the near future, enables the streamlining of procedures for prosecution of fixed charges offences by the Gardaí in cases of non-compliance with Regulations made under sections 34 and 39 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. In consultation with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Regulations will also be made shortly under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, to declare such cases as fixed charge offences.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend regulation of the national car test and the regulation of the taxi industry in view of the recent programme on RTÉ television; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13306/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. The testing function is carried out by Applus, since January 2010, under a contractual arrangement with the RSA. The Authority exercises a supervisory role to ensure the service is provided in line with the Project Agreement. The RSA, in conjunction with its Supervisory Services Contractor, continuously monitors a comprehensive package of measures aimed at ensuring the integrity and consistency of testing within the National Car Test (NCT).

The RSA has met with Applus and the Garda Síochána to deal with the issues and corrupt activities highlighted by the recent Prime Time programme and to identify the appropriate action to be taken. The RSA has informed my Department that Applus has undertaken an internal investigation and the 7 vehicle inspectors who were identified as a result of the programme and internal analysis were suspended, 3 have now been dismissed. A review of the regulation of the taxi sector will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The Terms of Reference of the review will be announced shortly and it will ensure that the views of both the taxi sector as well as the interest of consumers can be addressed.