Discounts on accommodation, shopping, insurance and car hire are just some of the great benefits and savings available to AA Members at home and when travelling abroad

Click below for further details

Welcome to the latest edition of AA News, the online newsletter from AA Ireland. With summer now upon us, there's plenty happening on Irish roads before we all set off on our hols. The new NCT legislation, which gives judges the power to impose penalty points on those convicted on not having a valid NCT, caused panic amongst many motorists, so we explain what this new legislation means to you.
For those who've postponed a new car purchase, we have a guide to keeping your car in good shape but if you're going ahead (and there's great value in Ireland for those prepared to haggle), we've put together some tips on buying a used car.
If you have any views or any suggestions as to topics that we should cover please email me directly by clicking here publicaffairs@aaireland.ie

Conor Faughnan, Director of Policy, AA Ireland

The announcement that from 1st of May motorists can get up to 5 penalty points for not having an NCT cert has caused widespread concern, even panic. Motorists in their thousands have been desperately trying to get their test booked and the NCT has found both its switchboard and its website bombarded. It is not now possible to get at test before the end of June. Conor Faughnan advises that there is no need for fuss or panic and no need to worry about the penalty points measure.

The new Bus Gate at College Green in Dublin will now only apply during peak commuting times following a series of meeting and debates on the issue in which the AA was heavily involved. The new scheme is not a car ban but it does mean that commuting drivers will not be able to transit through the city centre past Trinity College. As they are re-routed the space is given over to public transport and specifically to Dublin Bus, who must now deliver on the service improvements that they have promised in return.

The barrier free toll system on the M50 continues to victimise innocent motorists through a combination of electronic mistakes and dreadful customer service. People are now receiving threatening letters from solicitors chasing payment for tolls that have been charged by mistake. With the system making 200 mistakes a day and the call centre often impossible to contact this is deteriorating into a farce. Many motorists are contacting the AA about it. We have had a series of discussions with the NRA and are now appealing to Minister Dempsey for his help in sorting it out, writes Conor Faughnan.

An analysis of motor insurance prices across the market carried out on behalf of the AA has revealed what many Irish motorists are finding out already - insurance prices are going up. This is a major disappointment for motorists even if it is not a surprise. The cost of motor insurance has fallen significantly each year for the last five years. Now it is rising again.

The AA is warning motorists not to neglect car maintenance as people are postponing new car purchases. With new car sales down by 65% so far in 2009 many thousands of motorists are keeping their cars longer than they originally planned. This makes perfect sense in the current economy but the motoring organisation warns that as cars get older the need for maintenance and the risk of breakdown increase markedly.

2009 may be a tough year for tourism in many places but one location that might do very well is Britain. It is a hugely - popular destination for many reasons. Its close - the crossing takes no more than 4 hours (often less than 2 hours on some services). There’s no language barrier and especially this year there is the strength of the euro which goes a lot further than it used to. The AA has some advice if you are planning to pop across...

The AA is warning motorists not to neglect car maintenance as people are postponing new car purchases. With new car sales down by 65% so far in 2009 many thousands of motorists are keeping their cars longer than they originally planned. This makes perfect sense in the current economy but the motoring organisation warns that as cars get older the need for maintenance and the risk of breakdown increase markedly.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (NDP) capital expenditure is expected to decrease by almost 20 per cent in 2009 according to government sources. Spending on transport and justice (prison building & Garda stations) will see the biggest drop, decreasing by 24 per cent and 34 per cent respectively. In 2008, the government spent almost €1 billion on public transport programmes. In 2009, this figure is expected to drop to €628 million.

The Government has announced a new National Cycle Policy Framework. The name covers a list of over 100 separate actions and initiatives which between them are intended to increase the number of people who cycle each day from the current - and frankly pitiful - 35,000 up to 160,000 in the course of the next decade. Is this enough to get you onto your bike?