CLOSURE OF ALL NCT CENTRES AN URGENT NECESSITY AS RISK TO THE PUBLIC TOO GREAT – O’FLYNN

Independent Cork City Councillor Cllr. Ken O’ Flynn says that the government needs to insist on the closure of all NCT centres across Ireland as the risk of infection from the Covid-19 is too great in this sector regardless of the measures being taken by the company.

In a press release early on Friday morning the Independent Cork City Councillor said:

‘I am calling firstly on the company that has the contract to operate these centres on behalf of the government, Applus+ Car Testing Services Limited to do the right thing here and close these centres. While they have taken measures to deal with Covid-19, I really feel they do not go far enough and the risk of cross contamination and infection for their own workers and members of the general public is just too great. I also believe that any NCT test that is due should be automatically set aside and extended for the duration of this crisis and that no member of the public should be charged extra for rebooking or cancelling their test or rebooking their tests.

‘I see that taximeter verification’s has been suspended by NCT from close of business on the18th March and that this suspension will remain in place until further notice. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has suspended the requirement for a taximeter to be sealed at all Taxi/WAT Licence Renewal Assessments from 19th March until further notice. Why has one sector been suspended and not the other? This just isnt right. I spoke to a constituent yesterday who firstly looked to defer their test as they were not comfortable with the measures in place at the NCT centre and did not want to move from their home to have to do the test and the NCT centre told her that if she did not turn up then she would have to pay for a rebooking etc. This again is not right when the government are asking people to stay at home.

‘I am calling on the acting Minister for Transport Shane Ross to look at this immediately.” Cllr. O’ Flynn said’.