National Car Test
Dail Éireann — 2023-01-19
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

The current situation is totally unacceptable. That is why the RSA is in a legal process with Applus on imposing penalties on the company, which is not delivering the service that has been contracted to the State. What we are trying to do as a Department is to provide every assistance we can in terms of getting that extra recruitment, whether it is within the European Union or outside of it. The Deputy outlined some test dates that are projected into the summer and beyond. There is a priority waiting list and the majority of cases are provided with an appointment within the 30 days. The Deputy also referenced the free tests. A free-of-charge test will be provided where an appointment can be offered within a 28-day period but there are a number of conditions attached to that, which are outlined in the customer charter.
We are engaging on a weekly basis on this. It is not acceptable that the public service has not matched what is contracted and that is why there is a legal process under way on imposing penalties.
On the broader point, a European directive underpins this. Provision of flexibility and dates being extended are not possible under the European framework.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-01-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:51:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-01-19