Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on work which has been done to ensure high standards at national car test centres. [8616/12]

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 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.

I am informed that immediately arising from the specific allegations in the May 2011 Primetime programmes, seven staff were suspended resulting in three members of staff being dismissed. Since then, investigations have resulted in the dismissal of five additional members of staff giving a total of eight staff being dismissed to date. Also, the volume of internal and independent inspections of NCTS has been stepped up in the last few months including an increased number of focused reviews based on risk factors and more targeted test re-inspections.

While details of many of the measures being implemented by Applus+ to address the issues raised must necessarily remain confidential, overall, there has been an increased focus on reducing the opportunity for fraud and improving the focus on specific investigations, while ensuring that staff are fully aware of their obligations and of the consequences of a failure to meet those standards. The goal is to further reduce the potential for fraudulent activities or incorrect test results in the future.

I am also informed that the criminal investigation in regard to alleged fraudulent activity at the National Car Testing Service is on-going and Applus+ is providing all the information and assistance required. The RSA has acted swiftly and proactively to address the issues raised in the Prime Time Investigates programme and will continue to take every possible action to tackle these issues head on.