To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether his Department has given consideration to the publication of a Driver and Vehicle Agency capital investment plan which will facilitate the reintroduction of a full emissions test for cars and light goods vehicles under 3,500kgs.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) currently conducts a fully compliant diesel emissions test on all heavy goods vehicles, buses and vans over 3,500kgs, and a partial diesel emissions test for cars and light goods vehicles. This includes a visual inspection of the vehicle’s emissions and a check of the engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL), which indicates a defect in the vehicle emission control systems.

The reintroduction of a full emissions test for cars and light goods vehicles under 3,500kgs, will require a substantial capital investment in the vehicle testing estate to create a safe environment for staff and customers, in which an emissions test for diesel cars and light goods vehicles can be conducted.

As a first step, and as part of the DVA’s ongoing modernisation programme, it is investing in the construction of new test centres at Hydebank in Belfast and Mallusk in Newtownabbey. These new test centres include facilities for full emissions testing.