asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that those who cannot afford to tax their motor vehicle for the full year are unduly penalised under the present system of motor taxation which charges up to 20 per cent. extra for lesser periods than a year; and if he will alter the present system of motor taxation, if necessary by introducing legislation, so that a motorist may tax his vehicle for any month at the prorata yearly rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Taxation.
22.
Amendment of the regulations on the lines suggested by the Deputy is not contemplated.
Does the Minister consider it fair and equitable that a poor man who cannot pay a full year's tax should have to pay 20 per cent. extra because he taxes quarterly? Surely it does not cost 20 per cent. extra?
In actual fact from information on this matter, it is not purely a matter of additional cost. That is not the only disadvantage in having these part-yearly licences. There is the question of the intake of money at the particular time of the year which goes quite a long way to govern the allocation of the Road Fund grants. With the fairly good return early on, it is rather difficult to get even the figures that will be available to allow local authorities to plan their roads programme. That, together with the added cost and the added staff which these part-yearly licences entail, does not indicate that it would be an improvement to go further and break the thing down and increase the cost and the staff still further.
Would the Minister examine the whole situation further to see if he could find a more equitable arrangement?
I have, in fact, examined the situation fairly fully.