Mr. Mark Synnott:

There is a tried and tested approach to slot release within the NCT. We only know about three weeks in advance what staff are working. They are obviously entitled to take annual leave, some will be sick and so on. We will not know exactly who is available in which centre on which shift until three weeks in advance. It is only at that point that we can finalise the schedules. In the past we have increased the level of advanced opening of slots but the consequence is that we end up with vehicle inspectors deployed in less efficient locations, and that is not where we need to be at this time. We have flexed it, the Deputy can rest assured. The right balance we have is about one third well in advance. If the service was in balance at the moment, that one third would be more than efficient because it would not all be consumed each week. We are not in that place at the moment.