Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the validity of a national car test certificate, NCT, on a car which has been proven to be off the road for a period of time must be backdated to the anniversary of the last test date, which in some cases could be a substantial length of time, instead of from the date of the test going forward, particularly as the new rules for the voluntary early testing of a car allows the NCT certificate to be valid from the date of the test rather than the anniversary of the previous test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38692/14]

Paschal 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 overall responsibility for the delivery and oversight of the National Car Test.

A NCT is due when a vehicle is four years old and every two years thereafter until it reaches 10 years when it becomes subject to annual testing.  Periods of non-use of a vehicle or periods of not having to pay motor tax are not relevant in relation to determining NCT test due dates. The test due date is determined by reference to the date of registration and subsequent anniversaries of that date.

NCT certificates are not back dated.  As a test certificate reflects the condition of the vehicle at the time the test was carried out, it would not be possible to issue a test certificate with an effective start date other than the date of execution of a successful test. Where a vehicle is presented late for its NCT inspection, the NCT certificate is valid from the date of the successful test to the next test due date. This can result in a certificate of less than 1 or 2 years duration, depending on the age of the vehicle.  No provision exists to permit an extension of the period covered by an NCT certificate beyond the next test due date.

Voluntary early testing refers to vehicles presented for test more than 90 days in advance of their test due date.  Subsequent test due dates are re-set to anniversaries of the voluntary test date and this would result in subsequent test due dates being brought forward.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a used car which has recently undergone an MOT in the United Kingdom requires an national car test when it is imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38693/14]

Paschal 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.

Directive 2009/40/EC sets down the minimum requirements with regard to roadworthiness testing in EU Member States. However, there are differences in the test between countries.

In Ireland, passenger cars are required to undergo a roadworthiness test when they are 4 years old and every two years thereafter until they reach 10 years of age when they become subject to annual testing. Where a vehicle is imported and re-registered as an Irish vehicle it becomes subject to the same requirements i.e. if it is four years old or more it must undergo an NCT. The test certificate issued is valid for 1 or 2 years (depending on the age of the car) from the date of registration in Ireland.

In the UK passenger cars must undergo a roadworthiness test when they are three years old and annually thereafter.  If an Irish car is imported into the UK it becomes subject to UK requirements and must undergo an MOT there if it is more than three years old, even if it holds a current NCT certificate.