Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
184. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the reason subsequent tests are not pushed out to reflect the current delays in getting appointments for NCT; if the future due dates for tests cannot be changed, if the fee is reduced pro rata to reflect the compliance period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34313/23]
View answerUnder 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 automatically fall on anniversaries of the registration date. A 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 for vehicles over 10 years old, from the date of testing.
Permitting NCT certificates to be extended beyond the minimum test due dates 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. There are no current plans to amend this legislation.
Finally, the fees for tests are set out in section 6 of SI 415 of 2017, as amended, and are not affected by the date on which a test is undertaken.
