License garages to replace NCT, says Fine Gael
FG Senator Brian Hayes said the structures of the system are unnecessarily bureaucratic and time-consuming for motorists waiting to get their NCT done.
The system is particularly bad in Dublin, where nearly one in three of all cars in the State are registered.
“Only three out of 43 NCT centres are based in Dublin - car owners in the capital are receiving a raw deal from the NCT system,” Mr Hayes said.
He added that garage owners should be able to apply to operate the NCT and be awarded a licence to operate it for a fixed period of three years.
This would reduce waiting times, give greater choice of locations and provide a one-stop shop for pre-test and post-test check-ups and repairs.
FG’s Dublin spokesman said there is a strong argument for reforming the current system when you examine the statistics.
Industry figures show that there are:
1,447,908 private cars registered in the country
400,591 of these cars are based in Dublin - 28%
43 NCT test centres nationwide
3 NCT centres in Co Dublin - 7%.
Mr Hayes said these figures show the restrictive nature of the current system and a clear need for reform.
He said that when applying for a licence to operate the NCT, garage owners would have to satisfy clear quality control measures and be subject to review at licence renewal time and at regular intervals during the period of the licence.
The Senator said that this new system would have clear benefits for the customer and provide them with a greater choice of locations for testing - especially in the capital.
And it would also reduce the waiting time for appointments and give a better deal to customers with competing garages offering deals on pre-test check-ups.
There is no reason why the NCT should be operated by the public sector monopoly, Mr Hayes added.
The Department of Transport, who run the NCT service, could not be reached for comment.
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