Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a slight tangent, National Broadband Ireland, NBI, is fulfilling a huge contract for the State but, when you go down the highways and byways of rural Ireland, you will not always see an NBI van. You will see contractors and sole traders. Plumbers, electricians and telecommunications companies have taken on smaller sectional contracts and their vans are darting up and down the road. By the same token, in fulfilling a contract for the State, the NCT centres could look at innovative approaches. I am not suggesting trying to lure staff from main dealerships but surely some sole trader mechanics, who determine when they open and shut their doors and file their own accounts, who are tax compliant, registered and so on, and who have all the paperwork and qualifications, could be offered the opportunity. It would then be up to them. I accept the point that it can be a tiresome day. It is a very tough day they have, but surely some of them could at least be offered this work on a temporary basis as a way of bolstering what the RSA has on offer.