Mobile NCT centre could be on the way to Belmullet

Long-running campaign for Belmullet NCT centre raised in the Seanad

By Jack Good Published 16th Jul 2026, 21:00 BST Michael Conroy Motors in Belmullet, Co. Mayo Long-running campaign for Belmullet NCT centre raised in the Seanad Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

The long-standing campaign for a National Car Testing ( NCT ) facility in Belmullet was raised in the Seanad today, with Senator Mark Duffy pressing the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on whether the isolated Erris town could be reconsidered for a full or partial testing centre.

Speaking during the session, Senator Duffy noted that Belmullet 's status as "a unique area" and its highly car-dependent, rural population meant usage of a local centre could, anecdotally, outstrip demand seen in urban areas. He asked what could be done to make testing more accessible for people currently facing journeys of up to an hour to reach their nearest centre, and whether alternative approaches — such as a partial testing service — might be considered.

Responding for the RSA, Chief Operating Officer Brendan Walsh said he had discussed the issue directly with a local Belmullet business owner shortly before Christmas, but that the numbers did not currently stack up. "The reality is there isn't enough vehicles in that area to actually support an NCT centre," he told the Seanad.

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Walsh added that the issue was personal as well as professional, recalling a visit to the Gaeltacht with his son that brought home the scale of the travel gap facing rural motorists. "I actually first-hand experienced that gap," he said, noting that the problem was "not unique" to Belmullet and would also be found in areas of Kerry, Cork and potentially Donegal. He said the RSA was "cognisant" of the issue and wanted to ensure people had a genuine opportunity to keep their vehicles compliant, adding that he would "really welcome" progress for the Erris area.

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Belmullet businessman Michael Conroy told The Mayo News that he hadn’t seen any surveys to confirm that there aren’t enough numbers to sustain an NCT centre in Belmullet.

Welcoming the reform of the current NCT system to take place in 2030, he said that “it's good to hear that there's an alternative but what is the alternative?”

While the muted mobile testing centres would help, he would like to see a policy change from the RSA so that independent garages like his own, Michael Conroy Motors in Belmullet, could get the contract to run an NCT centre.

The Seanad exchange comes amid a sustained local push for testing infrastructure in Erris, where Belmullet remains without an NCT centre. Motorists in the region — home to an estimated 15,000 people — currently face round trips of up to 150km to reach the nearest centres in Ballina or Westport, creating substantial challenges including long waiting lists, significant travel times, and considerable additional costs for residents.

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The campaign gained ground last December, when Mayo TD Alan Dillon arranged a meeting at Leinster House with Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney and departmental officials, alongside Michael and Mairead Conroy of Michael Conroy Motors in Belmullet, to press the case for a local facility. Dillon described the meeting as an important first step in advancing the project.

The RSA has confirmed it will carry out a further needs analysis in 2027 to assess future requirements for NCT services nationally, which will examine the potential establishment of new centres as part of any future procurement of the NCT service contract.

In February, local campaigners launched a petition in support of the proposal, with a petition book made available for signing at Michael Conroy Motors in Belmullet. Michael Conroy said the goal was to build up a body of signatures ahead of the RSA's 2027 review that could be presented to decision-makers.

Senator Duffy's intervention in the Seanad marks the latest stage in efforts to keep the issue in front of national policymakers, with the RSA signalling that emerging mobile testing technology could offer a longer-term solution for Belmullet and similarly isolated communities around the country.