23 December 2009
Minister for Transport Announces Changes to the National Car Test (NCT).
The Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD has announced changes to the National Car Test in 2010 and 2011.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has contracted Applus+ to take over the provision of the National Car Testing Service from 2010 to 2019. Applus+ will take over testing on January 4th in 46 NCT centres that employ 550 people throughout the country.
Changes are also being introduced to improve the quality of the service. Specifically, two new NCT centres are being opened and in the interests of road safety new testing items are being introduced in 2010 and 2011, following a public consultation process by the RSA in 2009.
The changes include measures such as additional tests for lighting, window clarity (level of tinting), exhaust noise levels and tyre quality assurance markings, measures to deal with dangerously defective vehicles, and (from June 2011) the annual testing of vehicles over 10 years old.Commenting on the changes the Minister said,
“The new test items will improve the safety of vehicles on our roads, both for the vehicle owners and for other road users. This is another incremental step in our road safety agenda, to make our roads safer and to save lives and prevent injuries.”
“I am also delighted that two new test centres are being opened in the New Year, one in Carndonagh on the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal and another at Greenhills, Tallaght, Dublin. The opening of these centres will enable people living in these areas get access to NCT services, within their local community, without the inconvenience of having to travel great distances. They will also support local employment in these areas.”