David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. The national car test, NCT, is a vitally important innovation. It has saved lives and made our roads and vehicles safer. Most people are obliged to have their cars tested every three years. An issue arises, however, in the context of the long waiting lists for car tests in some areas, particularly where I reside. I am aware of one centre at which the waiting period for an NCT is four months and of another at which it is three and a half months. These waiting times are unreasonable. People should be able to expect to have their cars tested within one month of applying.

This is becoming an extremely serious issue because the penalties for not having a current certificate are severe. One's car can be impounded, one can be fined up to €2,000 or one can be imprisoned. I suggest, therefore, that the Minister consider changing the regulations in order that such penalties might be waived in instances where people already have appointments for tests but where the relevant date is beyond the expiry dates on their current certificates. I am aware that people can apply 90 days prior to their certificates expiring and all kinds of advertising campaigns, etc., are in train to try to encourage them to do so. However, people are only human and they often wait until a month or six weeks prior to expiration before applying for the test. They then discover that they will be obliged to wait for four months for a test. Does this mean that they are obliged to keep their cars off the road for a month or six weeks while they await tests? Does it mean that when they drive to the test centre, they are breaking the law? Will such people have the penalties imposed if they are intercepted by the Garda? As I understand it, this is a straight-to-court offence.

As already stated, this is a serious matter and it is unreasonable to expect people to wait for up to four months in order to obtain a car test. In order to overcome this problem, the number of test centres should be increased, facilities should be put in place to ensure that people can have their cars tested in an efficient, effective and timely manner or that the penalties should be waived in circumstances where someone can prove that he or she applied for the test - in good faith - and that his or her car is due to be tested at a date which is later than the expiry date listed on his or her NCT certificate. This is a reasonable proposal and I ask the Minister to consider it. From the end of the current year, serious changes will be made to the system. People should be able to apply for the test a month before their NCT certificates are due to expire and they should be given an appointment for a test within a reasonable period thereafter.

Perhaps the Minister might indicate what are the current waiting times at each of the 47 NCT centres throughout the country, particularly in respect of online bookings. Obliging people to ring up and wait for a cancellation before being granted a date for a test is a cause of stress. Motorists must often take time off work in order to have their cars tested. This is a serious issue for all kinds of reasons. Will the Minister outline what is the average waiting time and what are the longest and shortest times? Why is it that it can take up to four months to have one's car tested in some areas, whereas in others it takes much less time? Will the Minister indicate the number of people who have been offered free NCTs this year as a result of their not being offered a test within 28 days? If he does not have that information with him, perhaps the Minister might forward it to me. Will he indicate the number of cars on the waiting list for tests in general and also the number that are on the emergency or urgent waiting list as a result of the fact that the certificates relevant to them are due to expire within 28 days?

I do not want to name particular locations but, as already stated, there is one centre where the waiting period is four months and another at which it is three and a half. I checked the position in respect of a number of centres this morning and discovered that people who apply for tests today will be obliged to wait until 10 February, 18 February, 24 February or 25 February before they can have their cars checked. Obviously, such dates lie well beyond the period in which one is reasonably expected to have one's car tested. This is a serious matter and I ask the Minister to deal with it in a serious fashion.

See this speech in context