NCT uproar as farmers fume over possible changes to test tractors

Farmers are up in arms over proposed NCT-style testing for all tractors.

Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president Dermot Kelleher has said logic must continue to prevail when it comes to any decisions around NCT style testing on tractors.

“This issue was settled in 2018 when after extensive stakeholder engagement it was agreed that only tractors with a maximum design speed exceeding 40km/hr which are being used for non-agricultural activities would require roadworthiness testing. This was the right decision then, it is still the right decision now, and we can see no justification for that agreement to be cast aside,” he said.

Mr Kelleher was speaking following a meeting of the association’s National Executive in Portlaoise recently where mooted proposals from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) regarding the NCT style testing of all tractors caused uproar in the room.

“Members of our National Executive agree that tractors with a maximum speed in excess of 40km/hr need to be tested regularly. However, there was unanimous opposition to imposing an NCT style test on slow moving tractors. We are clear in our position that NCTs should not apply to tractors used for the purposes of farming or agricultural contracting.”

Mr Kelleher said he has seen no grounds for saddling farmers with the additional bureaucracy and cost that would inevitably be associated with blanket testing of all tractors.

“Tractors are an essential part of any farming enterprise and out of necessity great care is taken to ensure they are kept in proper working order. We also know that farmers are already being crushed by the weight of existing bureaucracy, yet it seems that every agency is looking to pile on even more bureaucracy – whether it is needed or not.

"In the absence of any clear evidence that NCT style testing on all tractors would make any difference to our national road safety statistics ICSA will stand firm in opposing any such move.”