Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
312. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he has issued, or intends to issue, any policy direction to the Road Safety Authority requiring the publication of centre-by-centre national car test pass and fail statistics; whether he is satisfied that current publication practices meet standards of public transparency and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16754/26]
View answer313. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the total monetary value of the current national car testing contract approved by his Department; the date of its commencement; its scheduled expiry date; whether provision exists for extension; and the anticipated timeline for the next competitive procurement process. [16755/26]
View answer314. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he is satisfied that the audit and assurance framework operated by the Road Safety Authority in respect of the national car test includes statistical variance analysis of pass and fail rates across centres; whether threshold parameters are applied to identify anomalies; and whether such analysis is reported to his Department in aggregate form. [16756/26]
View answer315. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether the Road Safety Authority has adopted, approved, or reviewed any performance metrics applied to national car testing inspectors relating to inspection throughput, efficiency targets, or statistical outcomes; whether any such metrics are linked to contractual key performance indicators; and whether he is satisfied that such arrangements, if in place, do not create perverse incentives [16757/26]
View answer316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he has received, in aggregate form, data from the Road Safety Authority on the number and percentage of national car test fail decisions overturned on appeal in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and whether he will publish this information in the interests of public confidence [16758/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 312, 313, 314, 315 and 316 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation, oversight, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing (NCT) service. As Minister, I have no function in respect of procurement or operational matters.
The RSA has contracted a third-party service provider to run the NCT service on its behalf and the Authority exercises a supervisory role to ensure the service is provided in line with the requirements of the contract with the service provider.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the RSA for direct response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
