A new National Car Testing Service centre opened in Tuam last Monday, increasing the number of centres to 48 nationwide.
The new two-lane centre expected to create an additional 12 jobs for the Tuam area.
The Road Safety Authority says the facility will have the capacity to inspect some 20,000 vehicles annually when fully operational.
Located in the Carrowpeter, Doogra area, the new Tuam NCTS centre is the fourth test centre in the Galway region and will serve people from north Galway, south Mayo and west Roscommon, covering areas such as Tuam, Claregalway, Headford, Corofin, Ballindine, Mountbellow, Glenamadddy and Ballingar.
The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD, says the centre will provide motorists with a convenient alternative that is closer to them, rather than having to travel to other neighbouring centres in Galway city, Ballinasloe or Castlerea.
