That’s according to Galway East Deputy, Paul Connaughton, who has hit out at the NCT waiting period in the county.

The couple have been ringing the NCT centre in Galway for the past seven months, according to Deputy Connaughton, and have been unable to have their car tested. They have been informed that this is due to a backlog at the centre.

Deputy Connaughton said they have put a sign on their windscreen saying ‘NCT test awaited’ as they fear the gardaí will apprehend them. The couple said they “only use the car to go to Mass and draw their pensions” and have never had a run in with the law in their lives”.

To date no penalty points are incurred where a car is driven outside of an NCT test. However, points are allowed for in the Traffic Act, and can be introduced at any time.

In another case, a woman travelled from Cork city for a scheduled driving test in Galway last week. However, she could not proceed with the driving test, as her NCT had expired. The woman, who is from south Galway, was not notified that the NCT was due on her car.

Deputy Connaughton said it appeared the problem was an administrative one. He said: “There has been very little criticism of the actual NCT test itself in the last few years. NCT testing of cars is quite costly; it is run by a commercial organisation on a for profit basis. Given the tremendous revenue earning capacity of the system, clients must be entitled to notification of the due date and that such tests are carried out on time”.

A spokesperson for the NCT service has rejected that there are any delays at the Galway test centre. The spokesperson told the Galway Independent that there is “no problem” in Galway and an appointment can be secured in 21 days.

However, the spokesperson admitted there was a problem in notifying people when cars were due for their NCT. This was due to a problem at the vehicle registration office in Shannon.

“There was a problem with the data interface in Shannon and we didn’t get the full updated file. As a result, certain people weren’t notified, or received late notification that their NCT was due. There is no problem in Galway; the average wait for an appointment is three weeks, which is the norm,” the spokesperson stated.

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