NCT criteria changes required to reduce backlog, Kildare TD says

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Patricia Ryan, has called on the Minister for Transport to carry out a review into the National Car Test (NCT) system.

She claimed that the long delays that people are experiencing 'are causing havoc across the country.'

The Deputy’s calls come as figures for Kildare show a six- week wait for those applying for their NCT.

"The system is under real stress and consideration needs to be given to extending the time between tests, by allowing the test time to run from when the car is tested rather than from when it falls due," Ms Ryan said: "At present many cars are only a few months in test when the next test becomes due because of the long delays."

She continued: "When a new car reaches four years old it has its first test and then every two years until its tenth birthday, after which it is an annual test.

"We also have the additional issue where there has been a notable increase in the number of older cars being kept on the road as second-hand cars are scarce and more expensive.

Patricia Ryan, Sinn Féin TD.

"Sinn Féin’s communications and transport spokesperson Martin Kenny TD has suggested that the Minister should consider changing the testing time criteria from the same month every year, to a year from when the test is completed. 

"Consideration must also be given to temporarily allowing an extra year before new cars would be required to have the first NCT. 

"That would certainly go some way in reducing the huge wait time faced by people in Kildare.

"An intervention in the system will be required to get it under control, and Sinn Féin have solutions," Ms Ryan concluded.