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LABOUR SENATOR JOHN Whelan has sharply criticised the backlog in securing an NCT test.
Whelan said the “undue” delays are “causing widespread confusion and anxiety for motorists”.
The Senator added that he supported calls for “common sense” to be used regarding the new penalty points regime which could see motorists receive up to five points for not having an up-to-date NCT certificate.
“All vehicles must be safe, roadworthy and fully compliant with NCT standards. However, where law-abiding motorists do their utmost to comply with the law, they should be given every opportunity to do so and not be unfairly penalised.”
Whelan said he has been “inundated” with concerns by motorists who are “despite applying for their NCT test well in advance of the scheduled due date, are now being offered test slots as far away as March and April”.
This unforeseen scenario is making an ass of the law and may also have other far-reaching consequences in terms of insurance cover and liability.
He stated that “documented proof that you have applied for an NCT test” should be “sufficient evidence that you are compliant on an interim basis”.
“This sensible approach would also bring clarity and consistency to the discretion which individual gardaí can apply.”
RSA
A spokesperson for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) said that gardaí have been advised to take “a common sense approach to enforcement” as it at their discretion to “decide if it is appropriate to issue a fixed charge notice, particularly in cases where some time has elapsed since the last NCT expired”.
He added that the RSA took ”took steps to ensure that customers were aware of the changes to penalty points well in advance of the change”.
A significant national and local radio advertising campaign was run in early October and November advising vehicle owners to book in early for test.
The spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the introduction of the fixed charge offence seems to be encouraging people “to abide by the law”.
The evidence so far is that people who were previously overdue their tests are now seeking tests. For instance, 12% of the tests in December were more than 6 months overdue the test. It is good news for road safety that more cars are having their roadworthiness test earlier.
In the last three months of 2014 approximately 56,000 more cars were tested than in the same period the previous year, an increase of 26%.
The spokesperson said that customers requesting usually get one “on average, within three weeks”, while retest appointments are “on average, booked within six days”.
“Additional vehicle inspectors have been deployed since the beginning of January, which will enable more owners to have their vehicles tested on time, over the peak period, than has been the case in the past.
“Customers are asked to be patient at this busy time and all will be accommodated as soon as possible,” they added.
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Joseph McNamara paid a lot of money to erect this abomination on Achill, one of Ireland’s most beautiful islands. He should have used the money to fill in and restore the disgusting hole in the ground of his unfinished development in Keel, also on Achill Island. For years these two desecrations have destroyed the scenic views on Achill while contributing nothing to the local people or tourist potential.
And killed a cracking pub with it!
Money is tight ; as a monument to Anglo greed then I would say it was worthwhile ; as an artististic expression with the message it has it is even moreso!
Yes he should have tidied his mess but this is something special in my book ; it is w.t.f. Archaeology in thousands of years time ;
Imagine when they re-discover Stonehenge and link it to Achill in a few thousands years time , I can’t wait to hear the archaeologists square that circle !
At what point will Stone henge be misplaced?
Probably after the next ice age is my guess !
Why hasn’t this stupid thing been pulled down before now.. It was built without planning permission a few years ago, yet it’s still there.
The Wild West, anything goes and everything stays.
They should have ripped down Stonehenge as well, like I mean where was their planning permission?
This is good news indeed. Any positive publicity for young men is more than welcome. Though undoubtedly a judge sooner or later will order the structure demolished.
It’s definitely a monumental Garden now though Niall and we don’t need permission for that now do we ?
It stands or the system falls !
Im a young man in Ireland. I don’t need some pictures on some ugly concrete slab in Achill to make me feel better. I’d happier if they tore down the structure as its a bit of an eyesore in a truly beautiful landscape
What a load of artsy crap!
What a massive generalisation that many young men feel marginalised and even if many do how an earth does a load of big pictures help!!
Load of tosh!
There’s a saying; “You are not alone ” ; maybe if this art gets that message through to only one young man then every cent will have been worth it ; how much is spent on trying to prevent road deaths to no avail ; give it a chance it’s different therefore it might work !
“What a massive generalisation that many young men feel marginalised”
How do you explain the 525 suicides last year then? About 8 a week. {and many are not recorded as suicides so the real figure may be well in excess of that}
Perhaps we should keep this monument as a monument to the victims of banks and greed of the Celtic tiger. It’s the ultimate ghost estate built in the wrong place…
The council want to rip it down; says it all about corporate ireland really !
Council might want to rip it down but the council can’t afford to rip it down
that’s great news Sean ; I was going to go up and have a look at it a while ago and I heard they were going to rip it down so I didn’t bother ; a trip to Achill is now on the cards again ! deadly !
I cannot believe he is getting publicity again when he has made such a mess of a beautiful island! What is wrong with journalism online and offline. We are regular visitors to this amazing place and every time I see the monstrosity in keel it makes my blood boil.
Visited there last Wednesday and thought it was quite good actually, we need a reminder of what has happened in this country, the only problem I saw was its unfinished state (access road etc needs improving) other than than that its not a patch on the ugliness of most of the 7 bed Southforks built all along the west coast I’ve had the joy of viewing this week on my holidays!
The southforks only need trees to hide them …then Ireland will be beautiful again !
A disgusting urban graffiti’d piece of concrete rubbish blighting rural Achill.
Utter, utter rubbish. This isn’t going to make one iota of difference to anyone suffering with depression. Arty farty indulgent claptrap on an outrageous eyesore.
Oh christ!
Who is paying for this now
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