A National Car Test inspector refused to carry out a car test because there were dog hairs in the vehicle, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin transport spokesman Dessie Ellis made the claim as he said that “sometimes you’d get the impression that cars are failed and they’re being forced to come back for revenue reasons”.

He criticised the high failure rates and “the regular need for re-testing of cars over minor issues”.

He said that in one case “the person wouldn’t entertain the car because there were a few dog hairs in the car”.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said “I can’t comment on any individual case but I would hope that inspectors would inspect cars in nearly all circumstances because of how important it is in terms of road safety.”

He told Mr Ellis an independent appeals board, provided by the AA on behalf of the Road Safety Authority was fully independent of his department and the RSA.

The Minister also said test centres frequently receive unannounced visits and vehicle inspectors are observe undertaking tests. Check tests also took place involving vehicles just tested being immediately re-tested.

The results showed that “over 99 per cent of tests are correctly assessed”.

During transport questions Mr Ellis said “some of the re-testing and the charges to that effect where you are getting half the rate being charged again, are OTT” (over the top).

He also said there seemed to be discrepancy across the country where “in some areas the success rate is a lot higher than others”.

The Dublin North West TD said there were long test waiting lists for some motorists and in a number of incidents of failure, “things like that there was dog hairs in the car and ‘we’re not going to test that car’ and a bulb damaged which can be replaced very quickly”.

Mr Donohoe said, however, that a bulb not working which could cause an indicator or light not to work was a really important part of a car working.

He said the number of cars being tested had increased since he included the NCT into the fixed charge penalty system.

Overall tests for NCT for this year to date are up by 11 per cent versus a year ago, “and this is on the back of last year being the highest year on record for the number of vehicles that did go through the NCT”, Mr Donohoe added.

He said they did not increase the charge but changed the nature of the penalty and this had led to more people having their cars checked and this has made a contribution to road safety.

The Minister said the average wait time for a test in October was nine-and-a-quarter days. New test centres will open in the first half of next year.

Currently 588 vehicle inspectors are employed and 26 more will be available at the start of next year, the highest ever, the Minister said.

He added that there was a seven-day a week test service with late openings at least three days a week to 10pm at all centres. Twenty four hour testing is provided at North point and Dean’s Grange in Dublin. Enniscorthy, Ballina, Kells, Galway and Drogheda provide testing from 7am to 11.30pm four days a week.