Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding national car test, NCT, appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42267/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should note that it has, for some time,  been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Currently, this is a 'straight-to-court' offence which attracts 5 penalty points on conviction.

However, section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, when commenced shortly, will bring this offence within the Fixed Charge Payment System and will attract 3 penalty points on payment of the Fixed Charge.

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.

I am advised that any car owner will receive an NCT appointment within 28 days.  I understand that, in order to meet this standard, in some cases, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) holds requests on a waiting list until a suitable slot is found. In the majority of cases, customers are given a slot within the required timescale.  However, if a slot is not found within 28 days, the test should be offered free of charge.

Also, to further facilitate demand, an NCT may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is in place to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.

The RSA informs me that it is in a favourable position to deal with current demand and that the NCTS has been testing record numbers to date in 2014, with the number of vehicles tested each month being approximately 12% higher than in the corresponding months in 2013.