Applus, the firm operating the national car testing service (NCTS ) in Ireland, is facing pressure to quit its contract due to a backlog in waiting times.
Applus is being accused of falsely advertising a 14-day average national wait time for the national car test, when some centres are reported to have a backlog of up to six months for an appointment.
Drivers in County Galway wishing to book an NCT face up to a four-month wait, with mid-April currently the earliest available slot.
An Applus spokeswoman said wait times are just over seven days for Galway city, seven days for Clifden, and three days for Tuam. These times compare well the national average of 13.35 days, although when The Galway Advertiser tried to book a test in local centres, the next available slot is mid April.
“Some customers who go online may only see appointments for April to May 2024, however, if they require an earlier appointment than those available online, we are asking them to place themselves on the priority list,” the spokeswoman said.
January is often the busiest period for NCT as vehicles are due on the anniversary of their registration, and many vehicles tend to be purchased early in the year.
The Road Safety Authority’s (RSA ) contract with Applus was renewed for a further 10 years in 2020, but critics say the company has failed to abide by its own customer charter of offering free tests if wait times exceed 28 days.
Fianna Fáil’s transport spokesperson, James O’Connor, said these wait times are “no longer acceptable” and thinks the contract with Applus should be ended.
“At this stage, I think it’s no longer acceptable or palatable to me as a Government TD, as my party spokesperson on transport in Fianna Fáil that [Applus] should be allowed to remain in place and to remain having this contract, which was a decade-long contract negotiated in the middle of the pandemic,” he stated.
