Michael Ring
Question:558 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can receive a refund of fees paid for their vehicle test given that they had to pay the full fee again. [11418/03]
Written Answers. - National Car Test.
The Road Traffic (National Car Test) (No. 3) Regulations 2001 set out the arrangements for NCT re-tests, including the timeframe in which such a re-test must take place. The regulations provide that the latest date a re-test can be carried out is 28 days following the date of the initial test and that the application for a re-test must be made to the National Car Testing Service, NCTS, not later than 21 days following the initial test.
The vehicle concerned was refused a test certificate when it failed the initial NCT test conducted on 11 February 2003. An application for a re-test of the vehicle was made on 24 February 2003 and a re-test appointment was confirmed for 7 March 2003. However, the vehicle did not pass the re-test. It is understood from NCTS that on 11 March 2003 the owner of the vehicle contacted NCTS to make a further test appointment. However, as the 21-day period for making a re-test appointment had expired on 4 March 2003, an appointment at that stage could only be for a full NCT test for which the standard test fee would be payable.
In these circumstances, I am satisfied that the fees levied by NCTS in respect of the full tests and re-tests carried out on the vehicle concerned are in order.