A new National Car Test (NCT) centre will open in Co. Galway from Monday (March 29), with the capacity to inspect over 20,000 vehicles annually.

The opening date was confirmed this morning the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The centre, located in Tuam, will be a two lane centre that will see 12 jobs created. It brings the number of NCT centres in the country to 48.

Speaking ahead of the opening, the Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, Hildegarde Naughton, said that the centre will serve north Galway and south Mayo.

“[It] will provide motorists with a convenient alternative that’s close to them, rather than having to travel to other neighbouring centres in Galway City, Ballinasloe or Castlerea for an NCT. The new centre in Tuam will play its part in keeping vehicles and roads safe,” the minister added.

Mark Synnott, managing director of the NCTS, said: “We are delighted to serve the people of north Galway with this new two lane centre. The opening of the Tuam Centre will see us increase our network to 48 NCT centres nationwide and employ over 600 vehicle inspectors, who combined inspect over 1.8 million vehicles on an annual basis.

Over the next year, there are plans to provide a range of additional benefits to customers such as the opening of new testing centres in certain location; the upgrading and refurbishment of existing centres; and other service improvements, on behalf of the RSA.

The centre, which will be based in the Carrowpeter area of Tuam, will be the fourth centre in the Galway region, and will serve people in north Galway, south Mayo and west Roscommon.