Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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976. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current waiting time for a national car test at each of the test centres in the country; the provisions that are being made for motorists who are unable to book a test before the expiry of their current NCT and who will be unable to drive their cars on public roads because of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49464/14]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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989. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the waiting times for national car tests in each test centre in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49626/14]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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990. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if measures are being taken to ensure that those who have an expired national car test certificate and who have applied for a test but are unable to receive an appointment for a test due to long waiting lists do not acquire penalty points. [49627/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 976, 989 and 990 together.

Changes to the penalty points regime which came into effect on 8 December last were legislated for under the Road Traffic Act 2014.   Those changes relate to a range of measures, including the National Car Test (NCT) system, which contribute to making our roads safer for all users.

It has, for some years, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Prior to the recent change, this offence involved a direct summons to court and the assignment of 5 penalty points on conviction. The provisions in the 2014 Act brought this offence within the fixed charge notice system. An alleged offender will now be issued with a fixed charge notice and, on payment of the €60 charge, will have 3 penalty points assigned to their licence. The driver will, of course, continue to have the option of going to court where 5 points will still apply on conviction.

I understand from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that any car owner should receive an NCT appointment within 28 days and 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.

The RSA is encouraging people to book early, as the test may be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the due test date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires.

Enforcement of the relevant legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person's NCT test date is imminent, it will be a matter for the Gardaí to use their discretion. However, responsibility rests with owners and users of vehicles to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with the law.

As the RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight and delivery of the National Car Test, statistics relating to NCT waiting times at test centres are a matter for the Authority. I have therefore referred Deputy Murphy's Question, together with that part of Deputy Mulherin's Question relating to current NCT waiting times at each test centre in the country, to the RSA for direct reply.  Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.