DONEGAL appears to be bucking the trend as there is no lengthy delays at NCT test centres in the county.
It was revealed this week that long delays at NCT centres are causing extreme problems as 375,000 vehicles on Irish roads are without a valid NCT certificate.
However, there is no excuse for motorists in Donegal as there is no delays at any of the four test centres in the county with only 37 motorists waiting for a test.
The figures released to the Donegal News by operator of the National Car Test, Applus Automotive reveal that at Derrybeg and Donegal Town test centres, just four people are awaiting an NCT test.
Carndonagh recorded the longest delays with 19 motorists waiting for an appointment, and a further 10 appointments are required in Letterkenny.
The Irish Independent reported this week that, nationally, 375,000 vehicles are overdue their NCT which they say is more than double the normal amount for the early months of the year.
The company, which was represented at a meeting with the Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday by its country manager Mark Synnott, was expected to outline how 3,500 people per week are not attending appointments they made for their vehicle to be tested.
A staff shortage is also being blamed for the lengthy delays as the “Great Resignation”, resulted in workers changing jobs during the pandemic.
For Applus, this resulted in 113 vehicle inspectors leaving while a “chronic shortage” of qualified mechanics in Ireland is also a concern.
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