Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On existing capacity, there are 595 inspectors and seven in training. Does the Department have a clear workforce plan for recruitment for this year, for example? The Minister of State mentioned overtime but NCT workers are contacting me and saying there is overtime available but that the NCTS is not paying overtime rates. It is not giving time-and-a-half so very few inspectors are taking up the overtime. Is that something the Minister of State is aware of? I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the outcome of the ballot. Is there a risk that we will have an industrial dispute at NCT centres between now and the next couple of months? These delays might get worse rather than better because of the intransigence of the company to take the right measures to address the backlog and instead in looking to cut corners, as it is intending to do.

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