06/03/2002

Minister opens modern MOT centre in Larne

Stormont Minister of the Environment Dermot Nesbitt has unveiled the first of the new state-of-the-art MOT Centres that will serve Northern Ireland in the twenty-first century.

Boasting the latest in computerised vehicle testing technology, the Larne Driver Vehicle Test Centre puts Northern Ireland at the forefront of vehicle testing in Europe.

At the opening Mr Nesbitt said: “Around half a million people here will benefit from these user friendly facilities. Gone are the pit lanes. Gone is the stress for drivers. Now cars will be computer tested. Under the new procedures, the vehicle examiner rather than the customer will take the car through several stages of the new test.

"But the benefits are not only with the customer at the MOT Centre. Road safety will improve through tougher tests. Air quality will improve through more stringent emission tests for diesel smoke and catalytic converters. There will be more consistency across the 15 test centres.”

Installation of the new test equipment is possible as a result of a Private Finance Initiative and a 17-year partnership worth £57 million between DVTA and RoMaha, a consortium made up of Maha, a German manufacturing company, and Rotary Group from Northern Ireland.

Frank Jennings, Managing Director of Rotary Group said: “We have brought together a very strong local and international team with Maha, Sx3 and Rotary, and we are very much looking forward to working together to implement this contract with the continued support and co-operation that has already been built up.”

The new equipment will enable test centres to deal with more testing as the number of vehicles requiring MOT grows.

DVTA Chief Executive, Brian Watson said: “The new equipment would ensure that DOE can continue to deliver statutory testing responsibilities and fully meet EU testing obligations. Our staff are being given extensive training to ensure that they are fully competent in using the equipment.”

When all 15 centres are re-equipped, the DVTA will introduce more effective headlamp tests, a new brake test for commercial vehicles, and more stringent emissions tests to help improve air quality.

The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) centres in Lisburn and Coleraine are next in line to have the new equipment installed and all 15 MOT centres in Northern Ireland will be upgraded within the next 18 months.

(SP)

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