Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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569. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the average waiting times for those booking an appointment for a national car test in County Donegal; if he believes these waiting times are acceptable, in view of the fact that it is an offence for a vehicle not to have a valid NCT; the steps he is taking in order to reduce current waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44981/14]

Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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571. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the reported backlogs experienced at present by the national car testing service; the way the application of road traffic penalties for non-display of a current NCT certificate will be managed in the cases of motorists who fail to secure a testing slot in adequate time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45055/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 571 together.

It should be noted 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. The change I will be implementing shortly - by commencing section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 - is to bring this offence within the Fixed Charge Payment System so that persons will have the option of receiving 3 penalty points on payment of the Fixed Charge rather than automatically being required to go to court.  

The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight and delivery of the National Car Test, and as such, statistics relating to waiting times for any location is a matter for the Authority. I have therefore referred this part of the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply.  Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.  

Contrary to some recent media reports that there is a backlog of up to three months to book an NCT, I understand from the RSA that, while the demand for tests is currently high, there is no such backlog.  

I am advised that the vast majority of car owners will receive an NCT appointment within 28 days with the average currently within 2 weeks.  I understand that, in order to meet this standard, in some cases, the National Car Testing Service 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.

To further facilitate demand, an NCT may now 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 has run a significant advertising campaign since September to highlight this and informs me that it is in a favourable position to deal with current demand.  

The application of penalties for the use of a vehicle on the public road without a valid NCT Certificate is a matter for An Garda Síochána who are responsible for the enforcement of road traffic legislation.