Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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68. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to the booking system for NCT testing if he will ensure that no money is taken from applicants by a company (details supplied) until the week of the NCT appointment. [28761/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Operation of the National Car Testing (NCT) Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Payment for NCT tests is an operational matter and 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.

In respect of the Deputy's query regarding free tests, this is set down in the NCT Customer Charter, available at www.ncts.ie/customer-charter/. The Charter is agreed between the RSA and Applus and is not a matter of road traffic law. The RSA has indicated to my department that the requirement to provide free tests in line with the customer charter was reintroduced in October 2022, after a suspension as part of the response to Covid-19. Subject to certain conditions, a free test is provided where an appointment cannot be offered within a 28-day period. I am advised that over 4,100 free tests have been provided so far in 2023.

Finally, the RSA has made An Garda Síochána aware that some vehicle owners continue to have issues securing an NCT appointment. Motorists should keep a record of their upcoming test date in their vehicle. However, it is important to note that road traffic legislation requires motorists to maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition and it remains an offence, under the Road Traffic Acts, to drive a vehicle on a public road or in a public place without a valid NCT. Enforcement of road traffic legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána.