National Car Test

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Questions (248, 258, 266)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

248. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the measures that are being taken to reduce the delays in NCT appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1481/23]

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258. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if issues relating to NCT tests have been brought to his attention; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are delays of up to seven months for a test in some areas; his views on same; and the action that his Department intends to take to resolve the matter. [1657/23]

View answer

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

266. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce the backlog and wait times for an NCT test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1715/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 258 and 266 together.

The operation of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore 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.

However, I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet high demand for tests and the delays which vehicle owners are encountering. My officials are continuing weekly meetings with the Authority to monitor ongoing progress in reducing test delays and 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.

Strong progress is being made in addressing the long-term staffing issues behind this backlog. Over 60 inspectors were recruited locally in 2022 and a further 50 vehicle inspectors started the last week of 2022, with further recruitment ongoing, bringing the total number of vehicle inspectors to 595 by end-2022, with 7 more currently in training. A number of other measures to provide additional capacity at test centres are also in place, including increased staff overtime, the temporary transfer of 20 testers from the NCTS contractor’s Spanish operation for a period of 3 months (8 of whom who will continue for a further 12 months) and the forthcoming pilot for additional inspection personnel to assist vehicle inspectors with automated elements of the test. Testers are being assigned to the test centres with the most significant delays.

I am advised that customers seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly, by calling 01-4135992, or may avail 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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

I write further to your Dáil Question Number’s 248, 258 and 266 in relation to the current delays at the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) and the steps being taken to reduce waiting times.

The past year has been especially challenging for NCTS, due to the impact of Covid, which caused significant staff absenteeism levels at test centres and in the call centre earlier in the year. There were also very high levels of customer no-shows and late cancellations. The first half of the year is always the busiest period for the NCTS as the NCT is due on the anniversary of the vehicle’s registration date and most registrations occur at the start of the year. With the delay in the availability of new cars, there are more older cars on Irish roads, resulting in circa 1.5m cars to be tested at NCT in 2023. These multiple factors have caused a build-up of demand and have constrained capacity, as NCTS has been unable to carry out as many tests as planned.?

Over the past 2 years, despite regular recruitment campaigns, NCTS has found it increasingly difficult to recruit sufficient qualified mechanics as vehicle inspectors, to meet the demand. This is an issue that has also affected the wider motor industry.??

NCTS open slots well in advance to accommodate customers who may wish to plan early to confirm a test date. If a customer requires an appointment sooner than those available online, the system has the ability to allow customers place themselves on the priority list online. Customers may also be put on the priority list through the NCTS call centre, if a suitable slot is not available. The option to add a vehicle to the priority list can be found during the booking process.

Whilst appointment schedules are opened up well into the future to facilitate customers with specific requirements, this is not a full reflection of the availability of appointments. The available appointments that customers see online only represent approximately one third of the actual appointments available for that time. NCTS will open the remaining two thirds of appointments three weeks ahead when they finalise their schedules and have confirmed staff availability that week.

In 2022 NCTS received 60,000 late notice cancellations and there were 85,000 instances where the customer did not show up at the test centre for the test appointment. NCTS would greatly appreciate if customers would give notice of cancellation to enable the appointment to be allocated to another customer.

Every effort is being made to manage the demand at this busy time, including

- Extending the operational work hours

- Provision of paid overtime

- Facilitating the recruitment of vehicle inspectors from outside the EU (Philippines)

- Temporary secondment of vehicle inspectors from a sister company in Spain

- Introduction of a night shift in the Northpoint centre in Dublin (from the end of January)

NCTS added 124 testers into the system in 2022 to increase capacity and to compensate for losses in staff. A further 15 testers commenced training on 23 January. NCTS now has 610 vehicle inspectors, the highest number in the history of NCT. The number of staff in the call centre has increased significantly to compensate for the increased demand on the service including working on Sundays to plan for the week ahead.

2021 and 2022 saw the highest number of full tests conducted in the last 6 years and Tuesday 10 January 2023 saw the highest number of tests carried out by the NCTS on an individual day since 2017.

NCTS is continuing the recruitment of qualified Vehicle Inspectors to work on various shifts nationwide and details may be found on the NCTS website.

Vehicle owners are encouraged to allow plenty of time to book their test. Cars may be tested up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the certificate issued. This system is in place to ensure all owners have sufficient time to have their vehicles successfully tested before the current certificate expires. Car owners can check their NCT due date on the NCTS website: https://www.ncts.ie/1101

I trust this information is of assistance to you and should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.