Results 1,861-1,880 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Will Mr. Synnott explain why, when I go on the website today, it still shows 18 April as the first available slot and is not showing me a slot in October or November?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: I have been dipping into the site all the time, for example, at midnight and 10 o’clock. I have it on in the background on my laptop and have been dipping into it regularly. Occasionally, one or two slots will appear in November or December, but that is not a large number.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: But the website does not reflect that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Deputy O’Connor will probably agree with my point of view that the website needs a big overhaul. It should be slowing slots. If Mr. Synnott is telling us that every centre has slots available within 28 days, those should be showing up automatically. The section on priority bookings is very well hidden. When I make a booking, there is no option to say I would prefer an earlier one...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: I would have to cancel the booking to go back in when I should not have to.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: It would be because I made a booking for April but would much prefer one in January.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: But I cannot. Once I have made my booking, I cannot then ask for priority online.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Exactly.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: And my point is that I should not have to do that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: There are still 300,000 or 400,000 people driving around with out-of-date NCT tests.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Those are per the figures from Applus+.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: I call Deputy Lowry.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Is that net or have some been lost as well?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: It is similar to the HSE about which people say, "It is great once you get into it", but the problem is getting into it. This situation is somewhat similar. We are not quibbling with the men on the lanes, or the women for that matter, who are doing the test. I will say it again, that when I look on the website and see a slot of 18 April 2024-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: It is a very big problem though.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: This is not something that people get for free. People are paying for this service. It should be a profitable service if it was not for all the ancillary problems that exist at the moment. I presume that it is fair to say that the driver test service should also be a self-financing service.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: The public is paying for this; this is not something the State subsidises. It is subject to the public. All of us pay for the service when we apply to do our driver test. The current 30-week wait is not acceptable. We have had a good discussion. I will let Deputy Kenny in shortly. However, it is fair to say that people are paying for a service. People expect a level of service for any...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: Retirement planning is also ongoing for people who it is anticipated will leave the service.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: I thank Mr. Walsh. This is nothing personal. We are all here to represent the public and to articulate the concerns and frustrations of the public.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)
Gerry Horkan: A work permit can be renewed or the holder can apply for it to be extended.