Tipperary TD is told local NCT centres comply with current national requirements

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has been informed by the NCTS that, taking account of existing travel patterns and reasonable journey times, both NCT test centres in Tipperary comply with current requirements. 

The Independent TD had questioned the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, on whether consideration should be given to locating another NCT centre in Tipperary or the possibility of increasing the testing Lane capacity at the current facilities at Nenagh and Cahir.

Deputy Lowry raised the issue due to the high demand for NCTs in the area.

He emphasised that Tipperary is Ireland's largest inland county, with a population of more than 162,000.

He also asked that the Minister take into account that the testing centres in Nenagh and Cahir also provide testing capacity to people living in Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Kilkenny, Offaly and Laois.

Deputy Lowry’s questions were referred to the RSA, which stated that current guidelines require that "each National Car Test centre shall be located within 50 kilometers of 90 per cent of the owners for whom it is the nearest National Car Test centre. The patterns of demand for testing and the need for test facilities are kept under constant review by NCTS".

Acknowledging that there is a backlog in securing an NCT, it was stated that challenges due to the impact of Covid-19 caused significant staff absenteeism levels at test centres and in the call centre, in addition to customer no-shows and late cancellations.