KENNY SPEAKS IN DAIL DEBATE ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BILL

Posted on May 2, 2012 5:22 PM   |   Permanent Link   

This Bill has two main components, namely, the reform of commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing and the designation of the Road Safety Authority, RSA, as the driver licensing authority. The provisions relating to the two areas will bring about a significant and positive change to the way in which both commercial vehicles are tested and managed and how the issue of driver licensing is dealt with. The result will be a major improvement in service for all of those availing of both testing and licencing. This is a part of the reform process that the Government undertook in the Programme for government.

The primary purpose of the Bill is to establish a legislative framework for commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing in the State. The Bill will see the functions of local authorities regarding CVR being taken on by the Road Safety Authority. In addition, the Bill will provide for a new licensing/authorisation system in respect of test centres and authorised testers, as well as greater powers of enforcement through targeted roadside inspections and inspections of commercial operators' premises in respect of vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness.

The Bill also provides for revised administrative arrangements for the processing and management of driving licences. The change will provide the necessary support for the introduction of a plastic card driving licence in Ireland at the beginning of 2013 and for the transfer of the driver licensing function from local authorities to the RSA. The reforms being delivered on foot of this Bill will result in a significant saving in the current organisation of public services in these areas and will result in a better public service.

I want to put it on the record of the House that the commitment shown by the RSA, local authorities and those working in the area in responding to the challenge of public service reform and working to deliver the service changes underpinning this Bill is to be commended.

Regarding commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing, a number of years ago, following some high profile collisions involving commercial vehicles, the Department of Transport tasked the RSA with undertaking a comprehensive review of arrangements for the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles in Ireland. At present, commercial vehicles are required to undergo an annual roadworthiness test at an authorised test centre. Local authorities are responsible for authorising privately operated garages to provide testing services and for completing regular supervision of the authorised testers in their area. Following a comprehensive review, which was carried out by independent consultants on behalf of the RSA, the recommendations contained in the report were approved by the Department.

The recommendations involved two courses of action that would seek to raise the standard of commercial vehicle testing across the country on a permanent basis. The first element was a complete overhaul of the CVR testing system to provide for a three-strand approach by addressing the testing process to ensure that roadworthiness tests are conducted impartially and correctly at all times; developing a programme of roadside inspections to ensure continuous compliance with roadworthiness standards; the introduction of operator premises checks, and intelligence-led targeting of operators based on risk. The second element was the transfer of responsibility for the management and operation of the commercial vehicle testing system from local authorities to the RSA. The two elements are linked and necessary to meet the overall objective of the transformation programme, which will make a step change in the quality of commercial vehicles using Irish roads and thereby help to improve road safety, reduce congestion, ensure fair competition, develop a much greater awareness of road safety issues and promote a culture of safety in the transport industry in respect of the use and maintenance of commercial vehicles including trailers.

It has been claimed that commercial pressures have led some operators to cut corners in terms of vehicle maintenance and compliance with required vehicle standards, thus providing such operators with an unfair commercial advantage. This is not hearsay and the claims are supported by RSA and Garda enforcement activity and reports from enforcement authorities in other EU member states on the defects found in Irish commercial vehicles. The Government has to act on all of this. In the current economic climate, it is even more important to take all necessary steps to ensure the roadworthiness and quality of the national vehicle fleet does not deteriorate further.

In terms of safety, an estimated 17.5% of road fatalities on Irish roads over the period from 1996 to 2010 involved commercial vehicles, so an improvement in the roadworthiness of these vehicles could not only save lives but also result in substantial savings to the State. The avoidance of four fatal collisions or 25 serious injury collisions per year involving commercial vehicles would more than cover the operational cost of this proposed reform. However, I would emphasise that it is the avoidance of loss, injury, and pain for the families involved that will provide the real gain.

Another major contribution of this reform is to reduce congestion caused by breakdowns of commercial vehicles. It is estimated that up to 10% of total congestion on primary roads is caused by such incidents. Vehicles that are not compliant with the roadworthiness testing system are considered to be a significant contributory factor. Based on UK estimates of the economic impact of such incidents, the cost to Ireland would be in the range of €1 billion to €2 billion. It is clear that avoiding even a small number of these incidents on the M50 or in the port tunnel, for example, would have considerable economic benefit.

The other area to which the provisions of the Bill relate is the transfer of the driver licensing function from local authorities to the RSA. The system as it currently stands has a number of strands. Local authorities, operating out of motor tax offices, are responsible for processing applications and delivering licences. Budgetary responsibility for the licence service rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Department of Transport has responsibility for policy oversight and the driver licence database, which is managed by the national vehicle driver file section in Shannon. Operational oversight at national level and certain elements of policy guidance rests with the Road Safety Authority.
The impetus for the change that is now being progressed is the introduction of the plastic card driving licence in 2013. Under EU Licensing Directive 2006/126, all member states are required to introduce a plastic card driver licence in January 2013. The introduction of this new form of licence presents an opportunity to review the licence issuing system as a whole and an examination of whether a more efficient approach towards driver licencing could be made.

The RSA review suggests that for reasons of security, efficiencies and economy of scale the plastic card licence should be produced by an outsourced provider. Apart from other considerations, it would not be economically feasible to site plastic card production facilities at multiple locations. The main recommendation of the review was that a centralised model for dealing with all aspects of the plastic card driver licence should be proceeded with. The advantages flowing from such an approach cover identity features, security, customer service, efficiency and value for money.

In conclusion the objectives of this Bill is to introduce a reform programme that will improve the roadworthiness and safety of commercial vehicles and to provide for the introduction of a plastic card driving licence with more efficient and effective management arrangements. I believe that they are a positive part of the reform agenda driven by Government.