The Junior Transport Minister says hiring new testers should reduce the NCT backlog.
The number of vehicles overdue for the test grew by 50 thousand in the past two months, rising to over 425-thousand.
In some parts of the country, the next available appointments aren’t until September - here in Cork the earliest available appointment at the six test centres across Cork is at the end of August
Minister Jack Chambers says the testing company, Applus, is not fulfilling its contract to the state
"There is 55 additional testers being recruited, they'll be placed by the middle of April. I would advise anyone who is due an NCT test in the coming weeks that they are entitled to receive an appointment through a priority waiting list. The vast majority of people who use the priority waiting list receive an appointment within 28 days"
