Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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320. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to further extend the NCT certificate dates in view of the whole country now being at level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32815/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on the 20 April 2020, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport at that time, Shane Ross TD, signed the Road Traffic (National Car Test) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 into law. These Regulations provided that a 4 month extension was given to test due dates for vehicles under two specific circumstances:

-vehicles that had an National Car Test (NCT) certificate in force on 28 March 2020; and

-vehicles with a first test due falling during the period beginning on 28 March 2020 and ending on 31 July 2020.

This extension was given as a direct result of the suspension of the National Car Test roadworthiness service (NCT) on 28 March 2020. With respect to the current Level 5 restrictions, the Deputy will note that the NCT has been classified as an essential service (see Part 2, Item 14(x) of Schedule 3 of SI 448/2020) and accordingly the service has not been suspended. For this reason no additional extensions to test due dates for NCT inspections are anticipated at this time.