Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to meet for discussion on National Car Testing including staffing and driving licenses issues (NDLS)

The meeting will hear from:

• Applus Car Testing Service
• Road Safety Authority (RSA)

Speaking ahead of the meeting Committee Leas-Chathaoirleach Senator Gerry Horkan said: “Following on from meetings we have had with various stakeholders involved with the provision of the NCT, tomorrow allows our Committee to once again directly engage with the National Car Testing operator, Applus  and the Road Safety Authority to get as much detail as possible on where what progress has been made in addressing the long-term staffing issues which have caused the on-going NCT backlog and in increasing capacity at test centres, we will look for information on the measures introduced including the reported increased staff overtime and the extensive recruitment of new vehicle mechanics and  inspectors.

We will look to get updated figures on the number of testers in place, how many testers have commenced training and where these new testers are being assigned to. We need to see the average waiting period nationally reduced wait and we will ask the RSA if it is confident that a return to an adequate service level has been achieved.

The Committee also looks forward to hearing from the Road Safety Authority in regards to the unsatisfactory backlog of Driver Test applications. We have seen that there have been challenges to meeting increased demand including increases in applications for a driving test vs the same period in 2022 owing to the increased level of drivers passing through the Essential Driver Training (EDT) cycle. The need for dedicated training of staff to conduct tests in higher categories so as to meet the demand and a reduced workforce owing to staff retirements and contracted staff reaching the end dates on their contracts. We will look to the RSA for reassurance that this recent backlog is being addressed to get the service back to the level expected from the Irish public.”

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications  has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.