Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
190. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the significant delays for motor traders in securing registration appointments to import cars from the UK, which is causing major business disruptions and cash flow problems, putting many businesses at risk of closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17334/24]
View answer191. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the current wait times to secure appointments through a company (details supplied) and the NCT to import and register cars from the United Kingdom over the years 2022 and 2023 and to date in 2024, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/24]
View answer192. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that in some cases motor dealers are waiting for up to four weeks and beyond for appointments to import and register cars in County Louth through a company (details supplied) for the second-hand marketplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17336/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 192, inclusive, together.
I am informed by Revenue that, as permitted by the legislation on Vehicle Registration Tax, certain services concerning vehicle registration are carried out on Revenue’s behalf by an external service provider(ESP). This work is undertaken by the ESP as part of its contract to provide a wide range of vehicle-related services to a number of Government bodies. The contract was awarded following a competitive procurement process carried out by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and involving a number of other State bodies, including Revenue, as key stakeholders. The present contract commenced in June 2020 and is scheduled to run for 10 years. It was preceded by a 10-year contract that ran from 2010 and which was also won by the same supplier following a procurement process.
Vehicle owners are required in legislation to contact the ESP within 7 days of the vehicle entering the State in order to get an appointment, which allows for the relevant vehicle examination and registration process to conclude within the required 30-day period. The ESP is obliged to provide access to the VRT-related examination services at a range of National Car Test Service (NCTS) centres throughout the country and to give timely appointments so that customers can register their vehicle within the statutory period.
I am advised that authorised motor dealers can use ROS (Revenue’s online service) to self-register vehicles that were previously registered outside the State. This process involves having the vehicle pre-inspected by Revenue’s ESP who records the relevant vehicle details on ROS, after which the dealer can register the vehicle and pay the VRT at the point when the vehicle is sold. This arrangement is designed to facilitate the motor trade who are permitted to hold unregistered vehicles and only to register them at the time the vehicle is being sold.
I am further advised by Revenue that, while the data sought by the Deputy on wait times since 2022 is not readily available, the average wait time nationally for registration appointments, during the six-week period from 1 March to 13 April 2024, was 2.8 working days. Contrary to the suggestion in the Deputy’s questions, the recent data on average wait times in Co. Louth indicates that appointments are available in that location within 5.5 days. Recent data on wait times by location, set out in the table below, indicates that appointments at all locations are available within the normal timeframe of 15 working days, as set out in the contract between Revenue and the ESP. This allows sufficient time for customers to complete their registration process within the 30-day timeframe permitted by legislation.
While the average wait time at the Dundalk centre during the above period was 5.5 working days, just over 25% of all appointments were either cancelled or the customer failed to attend. Due to the high number of cancellations/non-attendance, additional same day appointment times do become available.
|
NCTS Centre |
Average Wait Time (Days) (March 1 to April 13, 2024) |
|
Arklow |
2.0 |
|
Ballinasloe |
3.8 |
|
Ballymount |
5.2 |
|
Carlow |
1.5 |
|
Carndonagh |
1.9 |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
1.7 |
|
Cork-Blarney |
1.4 |
|
Deansgrange |
2.5 |
|
Donegal Town |
3.6 |
|
Dundalk |
5.5 |
|
Ennis |
2.0 |
|
Enniscorthy |
1.8 |
|
Galway |
2.2 |
|
Greenhills (Exit 11,M50) |
4.2 |
|
Kells |
6.0 |
|
Kilkenny |
1.2 |
|
Letterkenny |
3.5 |
|
Limerick |
2.5 |
|
Monaghan |
2.7 |
|
Naas |
4.6 |
|
Nenagh |
1.6 |
|
Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) |
5.1 |
|
Portlaoise |
3.3 |
|
Skibbereen |
3.0 |
|
Sligo |
0.8 |
|
Tralee |
0.5 |
|
Tullamore |
2.6 |
|
Waterford |
1.0 |
|
Westport |
3.1 |
|
National Average |
2.8 |
