Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

439 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 440244. Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transportwhen his Department officially notified drivingschool proprietors that a change in standardsin relation to heavy goods vehicles registeredafter 1 January 2004 would come into force inFebruary 2005; if this notice was adequate toenable owners to make the necessary adjustmentsin time to meet compliance by the due date; ifadditional time to comply can be afforded inorder that tests already arranged will not have tobe postponed; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [5639/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): EUDirective 2000/56/EC provides for changes in thetype of vehicle that may be presented for a drivingtest. These changes only apply in respect oftruck, bus, or car with trailer driving tests. TheRoad Traffic (Licensing of Drivers)(Amendment) Regulations 2004, SI 705 of 2004,give effect to the provisions of the directive.Vehicles registered before 1 January 2004 are notsubject to these requirements and may continueto be used for driving test purposes until 2013.In February 2002, representative bodies ofdriving instructors were advised, by letter, of thedirective. In the course of information sessionsheld at most test centres in both 2003 and 2004,regional supervisors from my Departmentadvised driving instructors that changes were tobe introduced to the representative vehicles thatcould be presented for driving tests. While theimplementation date of 14 February 2005 for thechange was decided in November 2004, I amsatisfied that the correspondence and informationsessions conducted during the previous threeyears provided adequate notice of the impendingchange.Road Network.245. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister forTransport if he will use his powers under section41 of the Road Traffic Act, 1993 to direct theNRA to approve phase 1 of the Roscommon toCooltighe stretch of the N61; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5650/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): The planning,design and implementation of roadimprovement projects including the Roscommonto Cooltighe section of the N61 is a matter for theNational Roads Authority in conjunction with therelevant local authority, in this case RoscommonCounty Council.I do not propose to issue a direction undersection 41 of the Roads Act 1993 in regard to thisissue which is an operational matter for the NRA.Driving Tests.246. Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Transportthe assistance which can be offered to a person(details supplied) in County Wexford to bringforward their C class driving test date; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5668/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): A drivingtest has been arranged for the person concernedfor 14 March, 2005. Notification of the testappointment issued to him on 9 February 2005.Road Network.247. Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister forTransport if all relevant State and EU public procurementand tendering requirements were followedin relation to the tendering process to buildand operate the West Link and East Link tollbridges; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5669/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): Proposalsfor the financing, construction and operation ofthe West Link bridge as a toll concession wereapproved in principle by Government in October1984. The subsequent construction of the bridge,and associated roads, was subject to a competitivetendering process run by Dublin County Counciland conformed to the relevant EEC directive forworks contracts, 71/305/EEC, and Department ofFinance guidelines for the award of public sectorcontracts, outline of Government contract procedures,prevailing at the time.Issues relating to the construction and operationof the East Link bridge are a matter forDublin City Council.Driving Tests.248. Mr. Haughey asked the Minister forTransport if the percentage of successful applicantsfor the driving test is broadly similar for allthe driving test centres; if there is evidence toshow that the driving test centre in Raheny,Dublin 5, has a much higher failure rate thanother centres; the action he will take to addressthis problem; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [5687/05]Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): While thedata available for the period from 1 January to31 December 2004 shows that the pass rate inRaheny was 52.4% compared to a national averagepass rate of 54%, the pass rate for drivingtests in Raheny in 2004 was higher than the otherDublin test centres.As in other EU countries, there are variationsin the pass rate among test centres. The pass ratemay be influenced by a number of factors, includingthe number of lessons taken by the candidate,the standard of instruction available and socialand demographic factors. The work of drivertesters is monitored on an ongoing basis to ensureconsistent application of the test standard.Air Services.249. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transporthis views on warnings from Fáilte Ireland and