Some 500 drivers may get a free NCT test for their vehicle due to the new St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday next week.
The Road Safety Authority confirmed to the Oireachtas Transport Committee that if people who paid the €55 fee were left waiting over 28 days for an NCT appointment in 2022, they will get a refund.
Applus+ managing director Mark Synott told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that 375,000 cars are currently overdue for an NCT.
READ MORE - The key trick that will get you an NCT appointment fast as people hit out at lengthy six month waits
Fianna Fail’s James O’Connor said there was a "crisis within the system".
There have been significant delays in securing appointments for the NCT in recent months stemming from issues relating to the pandemic.
Staff turnover and retention in NCT testing centres are also leading to backlogs.
And due to next Monday’s Bank Holiday and the loss of a working day, it is now likely that some people will get free tests. Mr Synott said: "I do recognise that we have a constraint next week with St Brigid’s Day.
"There are approximately 500 vehicles that are likely to be given a free test as a result."
Mr Synott confirmed that no vehicles received free tests last year.
He also told how 1.395 million cars were tested in 2022, with 54 per cent of cars passing the first time around.
He said: "Almost 87,000 vehicles received a 'fail dangerous' result which constitutes an immediate risk to road safety, more evidence that the NCT is contributing to the reduction of trauma on our roads.
"Current throughput shows over 35,000 full tests per week, over 9,500 non-visual retests per week, over 4,200 visual retests per week."
Of the 375,000 vehicles overdue their NCT, 42,000 have already had a test and 204,000 have a booking.
There is now a legal process underway between Applus+ and the RSA on the possibility of imposing penalties if agreed timelines are not met. Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said current NCT waiting times are "unacceptable".
He added: "This has been a cause of anxiety for a lot of people.
"Department of Transport officials continue to hold weekly meetings with the RSA to closely monitor progress in reducing test delays and to assist with any further issues or challenges which may arise.
"A number of actions have already been taken to increase capacity at test centres, to help ensure faster testing processes without compromising on testing integrity and to ensure that priority cases are dealt with as quickly as possible."
Elsewhere, the RSA confirmed that 47,364 people are currently awaiting a driving test.
The average waiting time is 19 weeks, with warnings that it may not drop to 10 weeks until mid-2024.
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