AQW 29234/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 03/02/2022
Answered On Date: 10/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure why her Department cannot measure average lead times for securing a MOT test.

Answer:

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) does not currently hold information to enable it to accurately report the average waiting times for a vehicle test given that this position changes on a regular basis. However, as of 8 February 2022, the DVA has confirmed that over 58,500 vehicle test appointments were available across its network of centres up to 31 May 2022.

From Monday 26 July 2021, the DVA reinstated normal vehicle test times, which has increased vehicle testing capacity across the network of test centres. From 1 September to 31 December 2021, the DVA conducted 264,540 full vehicle tests, which is 8% more than the five-year average for those months.

The DVA has steadily increased its vehicle testing capacity by adopting a range of measures including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and sick absence and a reduction of the vehicle test appointment time. The DVA is also offering vehicle test appointments on a Sunday and bank holidays, at most test centres. Following conversion of an adjoining building at the Newbuildings test centre, additional testing capacity is now available to meet demand in the north-west.

The DVA are monitoring the applications received and tests carried out and expect waiting times to reduce over time through the actions they have taken to increase vehicle testing capacity across the network.