Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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206. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the RSA's new regulations (details supplied) will be amended to ensure that CVR test operators without drive-through facilities but who meet every other standard as per the 2022 regulations can be kept in business and not forced to close as a result of the new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14845/23]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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207. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of CVR test operators who currently have a three-year renewal of authorisation and that the RSA expects will be forced to close as a direct result of the new regulations (details supplied) and specifically arising from the requirement to have a drive through facility on the premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14846/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.

The Authorisation of Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test Operators and Testers (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI 475 of 2022) prescribe standards as required by Section 11(2) of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, introduce premises improvements, remove special conditions relating to drive throughs and HCV pit lengths and introduce dimension tolerances for testing premises.

The Regulations delay the requirement to comply with the standard to have a drive-through facility on a CVR testing lane to 19 March 2027. This approach provides affected CVR test operators with a 3-year grace period and allows:

- premises that already meet the standards to be authorised for up to 10 years;

- sufficient time for upgrading of premises that do not meet the standards;

- CVR test operators to renew their authorisations using existing premises until 18 March 2027 and then, using upgraded premises which meet the new standards, renew until 18 March 2034.

A drive-through facility is necessary to carry out CVR testing efficiently and effectively and to future-proof the delivery of reliable CVR testing. All CVR testing lanes shall have a drive-through in place by 18 March 2027. Any testing lane that does not have a drive-through in place by that date will no longer be authorised to carry out CVR testing. This has been communicated since 2013, via Premises and Equipment Guidelines, conditions of authorisation and correspondence, and is now set out in legislation by SI 475 of 2022. There is no possibility for the Department or the RSA to deviate from the drive-through requirement for all CVR testing lanes.

As the RSA has statutory responsibility for the oversight of vehicle testing in the State, I have referred the Deputy's request for information to the Authority for further direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.