Campaign for new NCT Centre in Mayo gains momentum

A campaign to establish a National Car Testing (NCT) centre in Belmullet has taken a step forward following a productive meeting at Leinster House between local representatives and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport.

Mayo Alan Dillon TD arranged the meeting with Minister of State Seán Canney and departmental officials, alongside Michael and Mairead Conroy of Michael Conroy Motors in Belmullet, to press the case for testing infrastructure in the Erris region.

The Fine Gael TD said that Tuesday's engagement "marks an important first step in advancing this project and ensuring the challenges faced by Erris motorists are fully recognised."

The absence of a local NCT centre currently forces Erris motorists to travel to Ballina or Westport for vehicle testing, often involving round trips of up to 150 kilometres.

With approximately 15,000 people living in the region, this creates substantial challenges including long waiting lists, significant travel times, and considerable additional costs for residents.

READ MORE: Campaign for another Mayo NCT centre continues despite RSA setback

"This places a significant burden on a region home to approximately 15,000 people," Dillon stated following the meeting.

He emphasised that today's engagement represents an important first step in advancing the project and ensuring the difficulties faced by Erris motorists receive full recognition from transport authorities.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has confirmed that in 2027 it will conduct a further needs analysis to assess future requirements for NCT services across the country.

This assessment will examine the potential establishment of new centres as part of any future procurement of the NCT service contract.

Michael and Mairead Conroy, who attended the meeting representing their hometown of Belmullet, expressed pride in having the opportunity to advocate for their community at the national level.

"We did this with great pride to represent our home town of Belmullet," they said, thanking Dillon for the welcoming reception and the opportunity to present their case.

Dillon committed to continuing efforts to advance the proposal with both the Department of Transport and the RSA, acknowledging the ongoing advocacy work of the Conroys and other local stakeholders.

The campaign highlights broader challenges facing rural communities in accessing essential services, with transport infrastructure remaining a key concern for residents in remote areas of the west of Ireland.