Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 190, 191 and 192 of 23 April 2024, if he will address matters in respect of the difficulties second hand car dealers are facing with regard specifically to the mobile VRT trade appointment procedure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19928/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by Revenue that the average wait times as provided are correct and that as of 29 April 2024, appointment dates were available for 30 April at the Kells NCTS centre and 6 May at Northpoint/Dundalk NCTS centres. In addition, appointments may become available sooner, due to cancellations which the NCTS booking helpline team allocate in consultation with customers.

Online appointment booking slots for the NCTS are released on a weekly basis, generally two to three weeks in advance. In cases where these slots are booked up before the next tranche is released, customers are advised to contact the NCTS booking helpline, where they may be placed on the priority list for the next tranche of appointments and/or for cancellations in the following days.

As the Deputy is aware, there is also a mobile service provided to dealers, involving a member of staff travelling to the premises of the dealer to inspect vehicles and accompanying documentation. This is supplementary to the core service provided at the NCTS centres and is not subject to the wait time criteria set out in the Service Level Agreement with the Service Provider.

Due to the time-consuming nature of the mobile service and to ensure the efficient use of resources, this service is only offered where a dealer has a minimum of 15 vehicles for inspection. There are no plans to change this requirement and I understand that most mobile appointments involve a significantly higher number of vehicles.

Revenue advises that while there is currently a high demand for mobile appointments, the Service Provider is working closely with dealers to ensure that appointments can be arranged as promptly as possible. Additional resources are being deployed for mobile appointments in an effort to reduce waiting times.

Finally, I am advised that both Revenue and the Service Provider are actively engaging with the dealership in question and that a mobile appointment has been scheduled for the 11 June 2024, the earliest date on which the dealership expects to have a sufficient number of vehicles for inspection.