Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NCT is deemed an essential service; the rationale for its change of status since the first lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5528/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The NCT has been classified as an essential service (see Part 2, Item 14(x) of the Schedule to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 701 of 2020)) and accordingly the service is to continue.  Measures have been put in place to ensure the operation of the service is in accordance with HSA guidelines and public health advice.

The Deputy may wish to note that Ireland, as a Member State of the European Union, is required by law to carry out a periodic roadworthiness inspections on motor vehicles at regular intervals throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. The applicable dates for periodic testing are provided for by national legislation under Regulation 3(2) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415/2017). The NCT is an essential safety check and an important road safety measure that provides for a reduction in road accidents by detecting defects such as faulty brakes, worn tyres or defective headlights.   It is important that we do all we possibly can to keep our roads safe at this time, to minimise pressure on the health and ermergency services.

The exceptional four-month extension to test due dates for vehicles which was provided for by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 was given as a direct result of the suspension of the National Car Test roadworthiness service (NCT) on 28 March 2020. This suspension allowed the NCT Service to put a range of health and safety protocols in place at test centres to facilitate vehicle roadworthiness testing.  No further extensions are currently anticipated.