For Written Answer on : 07/11/2023
Question Number(s): 270 Question Reference(s): 48426/23
Department: Transport
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport to outline the relationship he has with the Automotive Market Surveillance Authority; the number and grade of staff working in the authority; the funding, if any, he has provided to the authority in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
EU Member States are required to appoint a market surveillance authority for a number of vehicle types under EU Vehicle Type Approval Regulations.
The Department of Transport has responsibilities for motor vehicles and motorcycles and quadricycles. For motor vehicles, EU Regulation 2018/858 (motor vehicles and their trailers) – Article 6 applies, and for motor cycles & quadricycles, EU Regulation 168/2013 (two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles) – Article 6 applies.
To fulfill these obligations, my Department has appointed the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as the automotive market surveillance authority (AMSA) for both motor vehicles and motorcycles and quadricycles.
SI 556 of 2020 – European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020, appointed the RSA as the market surveillance authority for motor vehicles and trailers from 27 November 2020.
SI 340 of 2023 – European Union (Two- or Three- Wheel vehicles and Quadricycles) (Market Surveillance) Regulations 2023, appointed the RSA as market surveillance authority for two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles from 1 July 2023.
AMSA is the statutory responsibility of the RSA. My Department performs an oversight role in respect of these functions, meeting on a bi-monthly basis to formally discuss the function and to review current issues and recall notifications and the numbers of vehicles affected.
My Department has oversight of exchequer funding to the RSA for the AMSA role. Exchequer funding for 2021 – 2023 is outlined below.
• 2021 – €580,000.00
• 2022 – €850,000.00
• 2023 – €850,000.00
AMSA staffing is managed directly by the RSA, following sanction by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Current staffing is:
• 1 x Grade 1 Engineer
• 1 x Grade 2 Engineer
• 1 x Grade 3 Engineer
• 1.5 x Clerical Officer
The AMSA function is overseen by the Head of Vehicle Standards within the RSA. More information on AMSA and the role of the RSA may be found on the RSA’s AMSA website:
www.rsa.ie/services/vehicle-owners/automotive-market-surveillance-authority-(amsa)
