Written answers

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the long delays in securing independent verification agency certification for new vehicles; the number of applications received for such certification, and processed, from January to June 2015; the average length of time taken to process such applications in these months; the steps he intends to take to reduce the processing times associated with securing this certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27402/15]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The responsibility for the EU Directive 2007/46/EC governing motor vehicles type approvals lies with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and its Agency, the Road Safety Authority. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the Irish approval authority for this and related Directives. The processing time reflects the technical nature of the approvals process, the increased registration of new vehicles at the start of the year and at the mid-year registration cycle and, in that context, the requirement on industry to build in an adequate provision for the automotive approvals timescale.

NSAI recognises that the current lead times are the cause of concerns for the industry and has implemented actions to continue to reduce the processing time. In response to the increasing workload, NSAI went to tender for the provision of technical assessors, who commenced in January 2015. However, it was not possible to rapidly increase processing capacity as the sourcing and induction of engineers takes a period of approximately 6 months before they become competent in the approvals process. However, the effect of these new personnel is now beginning to impact on the processing times.

The timelines are also dependent on submission of complete and accurate information accompanying the application. It may be prudent, therefore, for companies to build in a contingency timescale to allow for clarifications and/or the provision of additional information.

In recent weeks, NSAI has also introduced a new IT system to help manage applications and workloads. The new system allows tracking of applications through all stages of the application phase to final completion of approval. The new IT system will, however, be only populated by fully completed application forms - incomplete forms are returned to applicants – thus allowing more completed forms to be processed.

In addition, NSAI is carrying out training of appointed test centres (ATC’s) in order that they can work closely with applicants to clarify the test and inspection requirements which are leading to delays in processing approvals. ATC’s are commercial centres appointed by NSAI - and agreed with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority - to physically examine and issue test reports for some or all of the technical requirements. These test reports are then used by NSAI to grant approvals.

It is anticipated that these two new initiatives will contribute to an increased throughput of applications.

The NSAI will continue to closely monitor processing times with a view to returning to an optimum lead time target of two weeks.

The following table provides data on the number of IVA certification applications received, the number of applications completed and the average time taken to process applications, from January to June 2015.

Total IVA ApplicationsReceivedCompletedAverage processing time (weeks)
Jan '155893701.00
Feb '155094241.61
Mar '156055942.30
Apr '155295582.12
May '155054742.94
Jun '154044233.04
314128432.21

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