David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 211: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied the Road Safety Authority is taking all necessary action to address the ongoing problems with online booking and availability of test times in the national car test system; if he has received figures or updates from the Road Safety Authority in relation to the backlog of appointments or the average waiting times in different test centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42384/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) vehicle testing arrangements are matters for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). There is regular and ongoing contact between the Road Safety Authority and my Department in regard to the National Car Testing (NCT) Service. My Department receives reports from time to time in relation to the delivery and operation of the service. I understand that NCT has taken a number of steps to increase capacity to meet the substantial increase in demand in the early part of the year due to car owners wishing to become compliant early because of my introduction of penalty points last year for failure to display a valid NCT certificate. Additional staff have been employed, some test centres have increased opening hours to include evenings and weekends and two new test centres have opened in Carndonagh, Co Donegal and Greenhills in Tallaght. A new test centre is planned for Ballinasloe and the test centres at Arklow, Waterford and Portlaoise are being extended.

During the period November 1 to November 7 2010, 99% of those applying for a test received a date within 30 days. At this stage of the year any backlog has been cleared and NCT are encouraging car owners due a test in the early part of 2011 to come forward for test before year end.

The RSA continues to monitor the position regarding demand for car testing and testing arrangements and I am satisfied that the RSA is taking action as appropriate.