Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the current difficulties faced by motorists encountering long waits for a national car test that can lead to their NCT certificates going out of date despite their attempts to attain a new one. [2894/15]

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 (RSA) 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 understand from the RSA that the first two months of the year are traditionally the busiest time for the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) because most cars are sold in the first few months of any year. This, however, was anticipated by the NCTS and over 60 additional staff are being made available, bringing the number of Vehicle Inspectors in place this month to approximately 565, the highest in the history of the NCT.

The RSA has also repeatedly emphasised that the availability of appointments on the NCTS website is not a reflection of the total number of test slots available to customers. If a person requires an early test, they should follow the advice on that website which clearly advises that if a suitable slot cannot be obtained online, to contact the NCTS call centre directly on (01) 413 5992.

I understand from the RSA that it remains the position that any car owner, including those who may require an early test, should receive an NCT appointment within 28 days. In order to meet this standard, in some cases, the 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 has also been 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 and I would encourage people to avail of this early facility for booking car test appointments.

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 to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with the law.