Vol. 549 No. 3
288 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in NCT testing generally and the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; the action he will take to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6397/02]
Under the terms of its contract, NCTS is required to carry out a test within 28 days of the date of the making of a request for a test. I understand from the company that, on average, persons currently contacting NCTS for a test are being provided with a test date within 12 days of the request, which is more than two weeks earlier than required by the contract.
The industrial dispute at National Car Testing Service Limited, last year gave rise to a backlog of testing which the company is addressing in a recovery plan. The plan involves a substantial increase in the capacity of the company to undertake testing which will be achieved through a range of measures, including the recruitment of additional testers and the provision of extra test lanes and equipment. As a result, the company is now making offers of provisional test appointments to owners who do not initiate the contact, for dates, on average, 29 days after the test due date.
In accordance with EU Directive 96/96/EC, passenger cars are required to undergo a roadworthiness test when they are four years old and every two years thereafter. The scheme of car roadworthiness testing has been introduced on a phased basis beginning in 2000 with cars first registered before 1992, in 2001 with cars first registered between 1992 and 1996, and in 2002 four year old and other eligible cars. Under the Road Traffic (National Car Test) (No. 3) Regulations, 2001, which transposed this requirement into Irish law, the test due date is calculated by reference to the date of first registration of the vehicle and then is set as every two years after the first test due date. Where a NCT inspection does not occur on the original test due date as laid down by the regulations, the NCT certificate is valid from the date of the test to the next test due date. This is to ensure that the car is again liable for a test in accordance with the test schedule laid down in the Directive.
