Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The operation of roadworthiness testing, including the National Car Test Service, NCTS, is the statutory responsibility of the RSA. Applus+ Inspection Services Ireland Limited administers the test on behalf of the RSA. All operational issues, including the appointment of personnel are matters for Applus+ and the RSA, and it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister of State, to comment on specific operational matters.

The NCTS has been experiencing extraordinary pressure, due in part to a national and EU-wide labour shortage of qualified mechanics. To mitigate the risks associated with the testing backlog, work is under way to increase test centre capacity and to reduce the average appointment waiting time. A priority waiting list is in place for motorists to avail of cancellations, the contractor is providing 20 vehicle inspectors from its Spanish operation and the RSA has approved a pilot for additional inspection staff in automated elements of the test. These measures are in addition to the 53 new staff employed by the NCTS earlier in the year, and a significant increase in staff overtime, allowing eight tests per tester per day instead of seven.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy English, with my Department's assistance, has allowed for the recruitment of up to 100 non-EU testers. Some 44 additional testers have commenced training with NCTS and will be conducting testing before the end of the year. In relation to qualifications, I can confirm that the temporary vehicle inspectors from Spain are qualified to QQI level 5, which is the standard in many EU member states and in the UK. Until 2020, QQI level 5 certification was the minimum requirement for vehicle inspectors in the State.

Testers in Ireland are currently required to hold QQI level 6 qualifications but the RSA has confirmed that local applicants with QQI level 5 qualifications will be considered for a temporary period and that on-the-job training will be provided to bring testers to QQI level 6 standard. Additionally, I understand that Applus+ sought RSA approval to trial the use of inspection support personnel to assist the existing complement of vehicle inspectors with certain basic and highly automated test elements in stages 1 and 2 of the testing process. Vehicle inspectors will still decide whether a vehicle should pass or fail a test.

I reassure the Deputy that the appointment of these additional resources will not result in the loss of any existing jobs. The new employees will supplement the existing staff to increase testing capacity. The objective is to increase the overall number of testing staff to meet the high demand. The RSA has assured my Department that the high testing standard we expect from the National Car Testing Service, NCTS, will not be compromised in any way as it works to increase testing capacity.

See this speech in context