Minister O’Dowd meets new DVA vehicle test examiners and staff during a tour of the Newtownards Test Centre

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has met a group of new vehicle examiners during a visit to DVA's Newtownards Test Centre.

They are among approximately 40 new recruits undergoing training following a recent recruitment competition.

Minister O'Dowd visited the centre as part of a series of visits to meet DfI staff.

Newtownards is DVA's largest test centre and carries out approximately 150,000 vehicle tests each year. Approximately 6,000 driving tests are also carried out each year at the centre.

The Minister said: “The Department has been recruiting a number of vehicle examiners in recent months as part of its commitment to reduce MOT waiting times. I was delighted to meet some of those new recruits and to hear about their training. On successful completion of their training, they will be deployed to test centres across the north from mid-September.”