Vol. 574 No. 3
227 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport if the motor vehicle of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be recalled for an NCT test in two years time as opposed to one year in view of the fact that this vehicle passed the NCT test. [27004/03]
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 age of the vehicle and consequently the first test due date are determined by reference to the date of initial registration with subsequent test due dates falling every two years after the first test due date. Neither the date of manufacture nor the date of ownership of the vehicle is a criterion in determining the test due dates. Where a national car test inspection does not occur on the test due date, the national car test 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.
The scheme of car roadworthiness testing was 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 with cars first registered in 1997 and 1998 and other eligible cars. The vehicle in question is a used import which was first registered on 1 March 1997. In accordance with the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2003, its first test due date was 1 March 2002 with its next test due date 1 March 2004. Following the successful national car test on 30 October 2003, National Car Testing Service Limited was correct in issuing a national car test certificate up until 1 March 2004.
