MORE MOT tests than ever are being conducted in an effort to deal with an ongoing backlog, the Minister for Infrastructure has revealed.

According to Minister John O'Dowd, in the last two years over 1.1m vehicle tests have been conducted, the highest numbers ever recorded.

The information on increased tests was recently provided to Sinn Fein MLA, Aine Murphy.

"This increase in capacity has been achieved through a range of measures," Minister O'Dowd said. "(This includes) the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, with the latest tranche of new examiners due to be posted to test centres from mid/end June onwards."

He continued: "The DVA also use overtime to provide cover for leave and offer vehicle test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays when testing is not normally available.

"In 2023, there were only seven days in the year when they did not offer MOT appointments."

Minister O'Dowd also hit out at drivers who did not turn up for booked tests - which equates to around 900 every week.

"Disappointingly, in the region of 900 customers per week fail to attend a booked appointment, which places additional demand on this service," O'Dowd said.

The Minister's comments come after it was announced that private cars first registered between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, or between June 1 2017 and May 31, 2018, which have a valid MOT, will have a one-year Temporary Exemption Certificate from needing an MOT test.

Around 115,000 cars may be eligible for this exemption.

Minister O'Dowd added: "I am confident that the introduction of TECs will provide relief for many customers and will gradually improve waiting times over the course of the implementation period, with DVA targeting an improvement to around six weeks."