SGS TO CLOSE A LARGE NUMBER OF TEST CENTRES

wicklow joe

Hey guys just to let you know sgs have just informed staff of a number of the test centres that are to close, Clonshaugh, northpoint in ballymun, tyrellstown,fonthill, swords
deansgrange and others around the coutry i will put up a full list when i have them.
The staff have been told that a large number of staff wont have there contracts renewed (i'm told about 70 testers are to be let go).

In October sgs learnt that there contract for the nct was not going to be renewed and awarded to a new company starting in december 09

Also they are opening a few new centres one being in Gorey and another in Dungarvan

RedzDrivingScho

Thanks Joe for the info....definitely keep us posted of any further news.....did they say when they're likely to close.....is it when SGS contract runs out or before??

macroman

Baldoyle has stopped taking applications now also, heard it's closing in mid-February.

wicklow joe

Hey macroman
Baldoyle is to stay open, leaving it and finglas as the only centres on the Northside and GreEnhills and Dunlaoghaire on the Southside

Computerfd

Does anyone know what the story with the Cork SGS centres is?

Gauge

I've heard that Blackrock and Little Island are to close, leaving only the main centre in Wilton. Haven't confirmed it for sure though, so you may want to give them a ring to get an answer.

Computerfd

Why are they closing? Does that mean that if I apply for my test I'm going to Wilton?

Gauge

Apparently it's because the backlog is cleared, but again this is all hear-say. I used to live a few minutes down the road from blackrock centre but not anymore, otherwise I'd check. If it's true then Wilton will be doing tests for the whole of Cork city again.

Computerfd

Well the first time, the tester said to me "Just apply again" and I said but this place is closing isn't it? And he said, "No, not at all."
A number of people though have been saying to me that they are closing. I just don't know if I could stomach doing the test in Wilton again, I was humiliated.

macroman

wicklow joe wrote: »

Hey macroman
Baldoyle is to stay open, leaving it and finglas as the only centres on the Northside and GreEnhills and Dunlaoghaire on the Southside

Oh right, happy days then. Was afraid I'd have to resit in Raheny :cool:

TheElf

I was thinking! Kilkenny must be closing too, I was meant to have my test on the 26th of this month, but I had to put it forward because my NCT isn't until the 9th of December. But the latest I could put it forward to was the 10th of December. That's grand, unless somethings goes wrong in the NCT!

They must be closing here in KK that day, any date after that says no times are available, and a couple of people where let go from the SGS here last month.

wicklow joe

As far as i know not all the test centres are closing. i cannot see them having no cork test centre at all, i have not heard about cork yet, but as soon as i do i will let you know

Computerfd

THanks Wicklow Joe I'd really appreciate that, thank you so much.

eth0_

But the SGS test centres were always a temporary thing, they were brought in purely to clear the massive backlog of driving tests, so the government could change the law regarding driving unaccompanied on a learners permit..

Computerfd

Do you think ythe government would? Somehow I can't see that happening! I wish!!

whatdoicare

Is the Limerick one set to close? They seem to be failing people left right and centre recently-I'm on my third test and the second time round the FIVE people waiting with me all failed too.
My fault was totally <SNIP> too- he said I failed to see a pedestrian about to cross on the other side of the road even though it's a crossing with an island.
It would explain alot to know that they are trying to keep the numbers going.:mad:

TheElf

whatdoicare wrote: »

Is the Limerick one set to close? They seem to be failing people left right and centre recently-I'm on my third test and the second time round the FIVE people waiting with me all failed too.
My fault was totally <SNIP> too- he said I failed to see a pedestrian about to cross on the other side of the road even though it's a crossing with an island.
It would explain alot to know that they are trying to keep the numbers going.:mad:

Oh yeah same here, no ones passing in the Kilkenny SGS one anymore, People used to feel good going in there rather than RSA, but now anyone will tell you they'd rather sit it with RSA here, then seem to be pretty sound now!

whatdoicare

TheElf wrote: »

Oh yeah same here, no ones passing in the Kilkenny SGS one anymore, People used to feel good going in there rather than RSA, but now anyone will tell you they'd rather sit it with RSA here, then seem to be pretty sound now!

I'm hoping to get RSA aswell-it's just disheartening to know that I passed and I'm being failed just to keep some guys job, that he already knew was temporary, going. I feel like a right idiot-I was so sure I passed that I was chatting away to him walking back to the office and even went so far as to wonder if the pass is the same colour as the fail when I saw the red page coming out of the printer! If I had done something fail worthy I would have known it well before my test ended and wouldn't have been surprised by it at all!
It's also a pain knowing that I could-no, should- be driving around now instead of bumming lifts of my parents and friends!:mad:
It's also very aggravating hearing the stuff my friends got away with in their tests-
1) Asking the tester what she should do when she was facing a car coming against her in a tight road.
2) Not looking over their shoulder or mirror before pulling out-and even going so far as to say "oh, crap" when remembering it-which the examiner made fun of but still passed!
3) Driving up on the curb for at least 300 meters to drive around an approaching truck on a small road! When my friend questioned it -the examiner said "what would you have done if I wasn't there?" Friend -"drove up on the curb" Examiner -"well then."
4) Getting more than three rules of the road test answers wrong and knowing nothing about the engine-still passed!

Wishbone Ash

whatdoicare wrote: »

I passed and I'm being failed just to keep some guys job

Please read the charter before posting in future.

* If you have failed a test, please do not refer to the tester or the RSA/SGS in an offensive manner.

You appear to be suffering from "everyone else's fault" syndrome.

whatdoicare

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Please read the charter before posting in future.

Terribly sorry-didn't men to break the rules:(

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

You appear to be suffering from "everyone else's fault" syndrome.

What do you think failed me?

J_R

whatdoicare wrote: »

What do you think failed me?

The Driving Test Marking sheet.

At least that is the reply I received from a driving test examiner when I asked him how could he fail some people with a clear conscience.

His answer, I never fail anybody. The report sheet does. End of the test I look at the sheet and it tells me whither they have passed or failed.

2qk4u

The SGS test centre are supposed to closing on Dec 23rd, except for the test centres in Finglas and Tallaght..

Wishbone Ash

Thread merged.

timmywex

2qk4u wrote: »

The SGS test centre are supposed to closing on Dec 23rd, except for the test centres in Finglas and Tallaght..

All of them apart from the ones mentioned?

Josie_dub

Just booked my test in Fonthill on 16th January. There was only that date and one time slot every other date up till the end of February just said not available and you couldn't see any further dates. I reckon I got a cancellation.

I had to ring up to confirm the time because they'd emailed me a different time then I booked, when I asked what would happen if I had to reschedule the woman simply said that she didn't know, that they had no dates after February. If anyone recently got their letter for SGS Fonthill ring as soon as you can and you might get a cancellation.

Red Alert

I'm surprised they were that temporary, considering also how much automation and computerization SGS had put in to it. I had a very thorough and difficult test from them despite having a very nice examiner.

driverite

December 23rd is the day most of the centres are to close. Sgs didnt invest that much into the whole set up, they already owned the buildings the operated from (except from a few hotels like bray and tyrellstown, newbridge and navan), The palm pilots (packard bells and hp printers with eircom wireless) The rsa provided everything else.

whatdoicare

So, are they all closed now or what? Haven't heard anything about it.

sunnyside

Does anyone know if the centres in Cork have closed? Is it back to Wilton now for everybody?

brian076

Hi I was one of the SGS testers let go just before Christmas. Because the backlog as been reduced the RSA would not confirm to SGS how many tests that they would release this year so SGS had no alternative but to reduce their workforce. Basically they only have about 40 testers now, so some centres may only have 1 tester in them and some others will only be used ocassionaly. In Dublin there will be 4 centres: Baldoyle, Tallaght, Dun Laoighre & Finglas. I'm not really sure about other parts of the country, but I think all the centres in Cork will close.
The big problem which could arise, is that if the Gardai suddenly clamp down on L drivers, which we all know hasn't happened up to now, and if people start to panic looking for a quick driving test, there will not be enough testers to cope, which will lead to another backlog situation

ironclaw

Anyone know the story with Bray?

newbie2

ironclaw wrote: »

Anyone know the story with Bray?

I just booked my test for next month so i think it's ok. - There seems to be planty of spaces.

ironclaw

Phew... Thank you!

driverite

The contract with the hotel runs out in march, so tests are ok, There is only one tester now based in Bray,

BenjAii

Phoned the RSA today to try and change my test from Wicklow to Bray (an SGS centre) and no joy. According to the RSA SGS haven't accepted applications in 6 weeks and the person I spoke to didn't know when they might be accepting them again.

I've heard rumours the government is discontinuing with their services for good.

Anyone know what is happening here ?

2qk4u

Not sure about Bray but most of the SGS test centres are closed now.

tba

****, I did me test with them, they were a lot more professional than the government crowd.

seamus

It's a little bizarre. What makes them think that they won't be back at square one and another huge backlog in ten years time?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

brian076

As an ex SGS tester I can assure you that we were very annoyed and frustrated when we were told that we were no longer needed just before xmas. Basically the RSA did not release any tests to SGS and the word coming back from various RSA testers, was that they were unhappy with SGS because it affected their overtime. Bear in mind that we were doing 47 tests per week compared with the RSA who do approx 30.
At the moment there are about 40 SGS testers around thecountry which means that many of the centres will either be closed or used part-time.
It shows you how clueless our Government is that they will reduce the number of testers, but keep the ones that are less productive and earn approx 50% more than the ones being let go.

eve21

can you apply to sgs direct???? i thought you had to apply to RSA and then you may or may not be called to their overflow sgs centre? i have a test coming up in churchtown but i would have applied to bray if i could as i live there?!

newbie2

I applied in august and did'nt hear anyhthing until mid november when the RSA sent out a letter acknowledging my application. They then sent another letter saying I was outsourced to the SGS centre in Bray ( I had requested politley that I do it in Bray on my app form). Didn't hear anything for ages, then at the start of Jan I went onto the site and booked using a candidate number sent to me from SGS.

Wacko

I passed the test in an SGS centre last October, it looks like it will be really tough to get a license now, with all the things that are being proposed now, it looks like the backlogs will be back very quickly, see pdf in this link for details on it: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0113/driving.html
So don't get a night job if you are planing to learn to drive !

Cabaal

Wacko wrote: »

I passed the test in an SGS centre last October, it looks like it will be really tough to get a license now, with all the things that are being proposed now, it looks like the backlogs will be back very quickly, see pdf in this link for details on it: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0113/driving.html
So don't get a night job if you are planing to learn to drive !

To be honest zero limit makes sense and in many respect it should be zero for everyone, nobody should be taking any chances

Wacko

I agree with the zero limit and think it should really be there for all drivers, but if you have a look at the pdf with the article, it looks like the new learning scheme really is something that we don't have the resources for, there are a lot of stages to it, without all the SGS centres we could end up in a worse position then we were in before they starting trying to get rid of the backlog.

Cabaal

I'd agree with alot of the new ideas but there'd need to be a big increase in aavailable resources to do it,

tba

no driving at night? bha that will be great when you are actually allowed to go out after dark and can't find the lights.

Heres a choice quite from the article

pdf wrote:

Chen et al. (2000) found that crash risk for teenage driver increases incrementally with one, two, or three or more passengers. With three or more, fatal crash risk is about three times higher than when a beginner is driving alone.

Eh, duh, theres three times as many people in the car.

seamus

tba wrote: »

Eh, duh, theres three times as many people in the car.

From that quote, I imagine that they mean that you're three times more likely to be in a fatal collision.

But it depends on what they mean by a "fatal collision". If it's a collision where at least one person dies, then you're right. If there's a 10% chance of a person dying in a collision, then if you have three people in the car when it crashes, there's a 30% chance of at least one fatality

If that was a proper study, I imagine the paper were misinterpreting what the study actually says. It would make sense that a young adult would drive more recklessly as the number of passengers increased.

tba

Yep, if they quote selectively I will misinterpret selectively.

YourName

So whats the story??? Is Finglas SGS still open??? How many testers are ther working there if it is????

FrankieD

Just a point to clear. First of all SGS currently have, that I know of, three seperate contracts with the government.
1) NCT car testing - 10 year contract due to expire in Jan 2010
2) Driving test - renewed as far as i know every 4 months depending on backlog
3 Taxi suitabilty and Meter verification Unknown when tender due

Sgs have lost out the first contact of NCT car testing to a spanish firm which will be due to commence in Jan 2010, the new firm will be taking on all staff who are there in Jan. SGS are at the moment slowing things down this year with regard testing appointments and will not take on any more staff and some people on 12 contracts are being let go. As people leave therefore no one will replace them. The goverment require that there is an sufficent number of centre in every area of rep Ireland, therefore no area will be without a centre and will possibly open up more in 2010.

With regard to driving testing this contract is a short term contract to only clear the baglog of drivers needing test and is renewed every 4 months, when the demand goes down then the centres will go down and staff. Oh and deansgrange driving centre closed in Oct 09 and moved alongside Dun Laoghaire pottery rd

Taxi verification and suitability testing as well as taxi licencing is still controled by SGS and will prob now more regarding that issue closer to the end of year regarding who will be doing it in 2010

Expect long delays for appointments in 2009 in getting your car tested