Small hairline cracks have been found at 16 lifts at MOT test centres across Northern Ireland, it has emerged.
It comes after DUP MLA Deborah Erskine raised concerns at reports of cracks in the equipment during a sitting of the Assembly on Monday.
The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) said all lifts remain in service and MOT appointments have not been affected.
In 2020 faulty lifts at MOT centres were replaced after tens of thousands of test appointments were cancelled when cracks were found in lifts.
The DVA said the latest cracks “are not the same issue as the cracks identified in scissor lifts at the end of 2019”.
Ms Erskine, who chairs the Assembly scrutiny committee for the Department for Infrastructure, raised the matter during members’ statements on Monday.
She said the latest cracks raise “serious questions” for Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd, who is due to appear before her committee on Wednesday.
“The department spent £1.8 million to replace 52 of the 55 lifts when cracks appeared on the same lifts in 2019,” she in a statement.
“Overall it cost the department nearly £4 million in terms of backlogs to the MOT testing system. How have we managed to reach the same situation again?
“I will be asking DVA to provide the most up-to-date information to the Infrastructure Committee, and ensure everything is being done to assure the public and employees.”
A DVA spokesperson said: “The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) can confirm that their equipment provider has identified small hairline cracks in the welds of the main scissor bushing of 16 lifts across the test centre network.
“Independent inspectors have reported their findings on the hairline cracks as category C, which is their lowest category. These hairline cracks are not the same issue as the cracks identified in scissor lifts at the end of 2019, early 2020.
“The DVA has robust maintenance arrangements in place to ensure all vehicle testing equipment operates safely and effectively. All lifts remain in service and MOT appointments have not been affected.
“The inspection frequency for the affected scissor lifts has been increased and the equipment provider is assessing the cause of the hairline cracks and their findings will inform any remedial action required.”
