David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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613. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 729 of 19 June 2012 and 1137 of 16 January 2013 if he will provide an update on his engagement with the European Commission to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20158/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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EU Directive 2009/40/EC requires cars to undergo a roadworthiness test when they are four years old and every two years thereafter. However, Member States are permitted to test more frequently and an annual NCT for cars ten years and older commenced in Ireland with effect from 1 June 2011. Current EU legislation does not provide for a deferment of the due date for mandatory testing and test dates are set by reference to the date of first registration of the vehicle.

My Department sought to explore the mechanisms provided by Article 4.2. of Directive 2009/40. The European Commission took the view that those provisions relate to the exemption from roadworthiness testing of vehicles that are never or seldom used on public roads.  If Ireland wished to exempt vehicles that were only temporarily withdrawn from use on public roads from roadworthiness testing the Commission suggests that it might be necessary to suspend registration in order to prevent use on a public road.

However, in the event that such a vehicle were returned to use, it would be subject to roadworthiness testing appropriate to its age by reference to the date of its first registration and the expiry date of the certificate issued would not extend past the vehicle's next due date.