Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department will take to help with the backlog of NCT tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are facing to meet high demand for tests and the delays which vehicle owners are encountering. My officials continue to meet weekly with the Authority, to monitor ongoing progress in reducing test delays and to ensure all possible actions are being taken to bring the waitlist to an acceptable level in 2023, as well as supporting all appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance.

There has been considerable progress in addressing the long-term staffing issues which have caused this backlog and in increasing capacity at test centres, including the temporary transfer of testers from the NCTS contractor’s Spanish operation last year, increased staff overtime and extensive recruitment of new vehicle inspectors. There are currently 582 testers in place, with 34 more testers commencing training this week and a further 21 expected in the coming weeks. New testers are being assigned to the test centres with the most significant delays.

The average waiting period nationally is now just over 24 days, with some centres outside Dublin and Cork having significantly reduced wait times. The RSA is confident that a return to the service level agreement waiting period of 12 days will be achieved by July 2023. In the interim, I am advised that customers seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly, by calling 01-4135992 or by availing of the priority waiting list function via the NCT website, www.ncts.ie. In the majority of cases, these vehicle owners are provided with an appointment within 30 days.

In respect of extending the validity of National Car Test (NCT) certificates, under European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness testing, Ireland, like all Member States, must comply with the minimum specified intervals for carrying out such inspections. This is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415/2017), as amended.

Regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Regulations provides that the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined by its registration date and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of the registration date. Any certificate issued for that vehicle will be valid up to the test due date after the certificate is issued and is not automatically issued for 24 months, or 12 months in the case of vehicles over 10 years old, from the date of testing.

Permitting NCT certificates to be extended beyond the minimum test due dates without inspections would place the State in breach of our obligations under EU law and may affect road safety, should the vehicle in question be unsafe to drive.