200,000 more car tests so far this year as NCT operator tries to clear backlog 

Applus Ireland managing director Mark Synnott told the Oireachtas transport committee the company’s loss had resulted from the “huge levels of overtime” Applus had incurred dealing with backlogs. Picture: Dan Linehan

National car test operator Applus has said 200,000 more tests have been carried out so far this year than in the same period in 2022 as it battles to address its waiting list backlog.

It also says it expects to make a €5m loss across 2022-2023 due to attempts it has made to tackle the backlog for the test.

Applus Ireland managing director Mark Synnott said the company had made a loss of €1m last year and was projecting a possible deficit of €4m for 2023.

He told the Oireachtas transport committee the company’s loss had resulted from the “huge levels of overtime” Applus had incurred dealing with backlogs that resulted from covid, and its efforts to increase its tester levels by recruiting from abroad.

Mr Synnott also said the price for the NCT had not increased from its current level of €55 for the past decade.

He said the discretionary power to increase that price is the remit of the Road Safety Authority.

Mr Synnott noted the first eight months of 2023 had seen the highest levels of car testing seen in the NCT’s history, with 200,000 more inspections carried out in that period compared with the same timeframe in 2022.

He said attempts to hire additional staff in Ireland and Europe had met with only “limited success”, with most headway being made in terms of the recruitment drives in the Philippines.

To that end, 51 Filipino inspectors have joined to date in 2023, on top of an initial tranche of 44 who arrived in November of last year, with a further 28 in the process of joining — with those additional recruits expected to arrive before the new year.

Mr Synnott denied people could not get a test, saying emergency tests for people whose certificate is due to expire are available within 28 days, and if that timeframe is not delivered upon then the test is free.

Driving tests

The meeting heard from the RSA’s chief executive Brendan Walsh that waiting times for driving tests are currently at an average length of 30 weeks – three times the average length agreed with the Department of Transport.

Mr Walsh said the current situation was “absolutely unsatisfactory”, and made a commitment to improvements in waiting times for those tests being seen from October 2023, with a normal service level to be achieved by the middle of next year.

He said the levels of people applying for learner permits has increased by 53% since 2019, demand he described as “unprecedented”.

He said the number of people aged between 34-39 seeking a driving test has increased by 50% in the same timeframe, something “that hasn’t been seen before”.

He said the issue was mainly attributable to a rise in the relevant cohorts applying for tests due to immigration.

As of Wednesday morning, Mr Walsh said 146 driving testers are employed by the RSA, and that figure will rise to 170 in November and could be 186 by the end of 2023.

He said a hiatus for the test “isn’t going to do anyone any good”, adding “now would not be the right time as we’re almost there”.