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24/08/2022
DUP Calls On O'Dowd To 'Get A Grip' On MoT Backlog
The DUP has called on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to "get a grip of the MoT backlog".
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe was speaking after she received a reply from the DVA which failed to outline a realistic plan to address the fiasco of trying to get an MoT.
Ms Forsythe said: "People who need a test now are being given vehicle test dates well into 2023 yet records show the number of tests in 2022 is no greater than it was in 2014 or 2015.
"My Party colleague Keith Buchanan sat on the Infrastructure Committee and forecast the covid backlogs two years ago. At that time, we asked for capacity to be temporarily increased to deal with the predicted demand.
"If we moved from 70k tests per month to less than half that per month, basic mathematics would forecast a spike in demand is coming. Capacity should have been built up to deal with the covid backlog.
"The Minister needs to answer why the corrective measures were not put in place and why temporary measures failed to deal with the covid backlogs?
"The whole situation looks like an uncoordinated shambles that both the current and former Minister should be ashamed of and embarrassed by. This is impacting on real people and has a real impact on motorists' ability to tax their car so they can travel to and from their employment."
Official records show that: In July 2014 there were 71k vehicle tests; In July 2015 there were 72K tests; In July 2016 there were 70k tests; In July 2017 there were 71k tests; In July 2018 there were 71k tests; In July 2019 there were 79k tests; In July 2020 there were 2k tests; In July 2021 there were 42k tests; In July 2022 there were 72k tests.
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe was speaking after she received a reply from the DVA which failed to outline a realistic plan to address the fiasco of trying to get an MoT.
Ms Forsythe said: "People who need a test now are being given vehicle test dates well into 2023 yet records show the number of tests in 2022 is no greater than it was in 2014 or 2015.
"My Party colleague Keith Buchanan sat on the Infrastructure Committee and forecast the covid backlogs two years ago. At that time, we asked for capacity to be temporarily increased to deal with the predicted demand.
"If we moved from 70k tests per month to less than half that per month, basic mathematics would forecast a spike in demand is coming. Capacity should have been built up to deal with the covid backlog.
"The Minister needs to answer why the corrective measures were not put in place and why temporary measures failed to deal with the covid backlogs?
"The whole situation looks like an uncoordinated shambles that both the current and former Minister should be ashamed of and embarrassed by. This is impacting on real people and has a real impact on motorists' ability to tax their car so they can travel to and from their employment."
Official records show that: In July 2014 there were 71k vehicle tests; In July 2015 there were 72K tests; In July 2016 there were 70k tests; In July 2017 there were 71k tests; In July 2018 there were 71k tests; In July 2019 there were 79k tests; In July 2020 there were 2k tests; In July 2021 there were 42k tests; In July 2022 there were 72k tests.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
