Written answers

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

National Car Test

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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1736. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department carries out an annual review and/or random checks to monitor the standard of testing taking places at NCT test centres. [34758/14]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.

There is regular and on-going contact between the RSA and my Department on matters pertaining to the NCT.

The RSA has always recognised the need for consistently high vehicle testing standards. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) and Vehicle Inspectors (VIs) are subject to a stringent audit system which is carried out by the AA.  All test centres receive unannounced visits frequently and VIs are observed undertaking tests and check tests, which involve vehicles just tested being immediately re-inspected.  In addition, NCTS also has a dedicated Training and Standards team that regularly conduct unexpected audits at all test centres throughout the country.  Independent tests carried out by the AA show that over 99% of test results are correct.

The RSA has a Project Agreement in place with the NCT Contractor which sets down the various performance and acceptable standards with which the contractor must comply.  A detailed assessment and a report on performance of the NCT Contractor in providing the NCTS is prepared for each quarter and annually, covering analyses of test results, financial performance, call centre performance, operational performance at test centres, test bookings, customer service and human resources issues.  The Annual Reports are available on the RSA website at .

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