Should the Government listen to RSA requests to increase NCT fees, or will it leave the consumer “crippled”?
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is seeking an increase in NCT fees, driving tests and other motor services.
The RSA, which already has a budget of €90 million annually, appealed to Taoiseach Simon Harris directly to get permission to increase fees.
It is understood there could be a 10% increase, bringing costs up to €60.50.
For driving tests, the fees would increase by €8.50 to €93.50.
Consumer journalist Siobhan Maguire said the proposed fee increase follows “the old adage that when money is needed by Government agencies, let’s go hammer the consumer”.
“We're still in a cost-of-living crisis, this has dragged on for years,” she told The Pat Kenny Show.
“If we look at the cost the consumers are already subject to – on top of taxing and insuring your car, you have tolls on ten Irish roads increasing their prices.
“On top of that in April, even though inflation was starting to go down, you had diesel, petrol and fuel oil, they’ve all risen because Government excise.
“The consumer is absolutely crippled.”
NCT charges
Carcomplete.ie Road Test Editor David Humphreys said the NCT charges are already seen as a bit of a “money racket”.
“Things are pretty busy for the NCT and that’s part of that is because drivers nowadays have a tendency to put their car through the NCT and see what fails,” he said.
“There's quite a high failure rate on cars, so it has to go for a retest, which is another €28 on top of the fee.”
He noted the 10% increase would also bring theory tests to €45 and learner’s permits to €35.
Pressure on the RSA
The fee increase could be due to the increasing pressure on the RSA, according to Mr Humphreys.
“Road deaths are increasing, and it's kind of viewed that they are not doing enough, that the RSA is not fit for purpose at the moment,” he said.
The RSA oversees other companies running motor services, such as Aplus, a Spanish company that conducts the NCT in Ireland.
“It raises the question of what the real purpose of the RSA is,” he said. “Does it oversee companies, or do they primarily want to focus on road safety?”
He noted the RSA is also dealing with a younger generation that “doesn’t have an interest in learning how to drive”, possibly decreasing revenue in the future.
