Deputy Michael Lowry is to monitor public satisfaction with the service provided by the operators of the National Car Testing Service.
The Tipperary Deputy had questioned the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan on whether consideration should be given to locating another National Car Testing Service Centre in Tipperary or the possibility of increasing the Testing Lane capacity at the current National Car Testing Service facilities at Nenagh and Cahir.
Minister Ryan accepted that delays exist but says the company is working on tackling this by running an extensive recruitment programme in Ireland and abroad (primarily the Philippines), introducing paid overtime, extending opening hours, temporarily amending the Vehicle Inspector Qualifications to QQ1 Level 5 and transferring staff from a sister company in Spain.
The service is provided by Applus and the company is in a dispute with the Road Safety Authority about the standard of service.
The Oireachtas Transport Committee heard yesterday that the backlog is 170,000 above the norm for this time of year.
Applus intends to open 5 additional centres this year – according to the RSA there are circa 1.5 million cars to be tested this year.
The operator says there is a high level of no shows or late cancellation of appointments.
