More NCT staff hired as tougher penalty points sanctions start
Extra staff have been hired to speed up the process of getting an NCT in the new year.
Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed the development this morning as changes are made to the penalty points regime.
Fourteen more offences will incur points from now on, while nine offences already on the list will incur tougher sanctions.
Drivers will have the option of taking points and a fine for failing to display an NCT cert, instead of a court appearance.
Minister Donohoe says they are doing their best to make sure applications are processed as quickly as possible.
He said: "So the vast majority of people are receiving appointments, but they need to contact their NCT centre by phone.
"What I have done over the past couple of weeks is I have worked closely with the Road Safety Authority, they have hired 50 extra staff across the January, February, March period to meet this demand.
"Service centres will be working even harder to make sure people can get a test on the timings they need."
The new points offences include learner permit holders driving unaccompanied or failing to display an L plate, and failure by novice drivers to display an N plate. Two points will be due on payment of a fixed charge or four on conviction in court.
Among the offences for which the penalty points have increased are dangerous overtaking, failure to stop a vehicle before a stop sign and failure to obey traffic lights.
Two offences which previously involved a court appearance have now been brought within the fixed charge and points system.
