asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the demand for a motor taxation and licensing authority in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and the action, if any, he intends to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Taxation Authority.
8.
Legislation would be necessary to constitute Dún Laoghaire Corporation a separate authority for motor taxation and licensing purposes.
In so far as the suggestion is aimed at securing a better service for the vehicle owners resident in Dún Laoghaire, there would be considerable disadvantages as well as some advantages in breaking up the motor taxation service in the Dublin area. Other measures, considered to be more likely to improve the service are either in hands or being developed—for example, the provision of better premises for the overall Dublin office and the computerisation of motor tax work.
Could the Minister say what are the better provisions that are being made?
The provision of better premises for the overall Dublin office and the computerisation of motor tax work.
(Dublin Central): Would the Minister consider opening an additional taxation office on the south side of the city? It is absolutely ludicrous that we have only one taxation office in Dublin.
It is proposed to have a much better service with the new building which will mean that the service will be available right through lunchtime. I often wonder why people do not post in their motor tax forms rather than queue at the motor tax office. This would help considerably. Between computerisation and provision of the new office I think there will be a very big improvement.
(Dublin Central): This is causing congestion because the majority of motorists have to travel from the south side to get their cars taxed. Further, there is a delay of about one hour if one is waiting to get a car taxed at Coleraine Street.
I have just suggested there should be an improvement and I have suggested a way in which they would not have to wait at all. If they posted in their forms they could have the tax back without any queueing.
We have a General Post Office with quite a number of sub-post offices. Could we not have a general motor taxation office where the Minister intends to have it with a number of sub-offices spread over the county, north and south?
It would be lovely to have one in every street but the Deputy must be aware of the cost. It would not be a good idea to have a number of extra offices which would need to be staffed and would cost a lot of money.
I am not saying we should have a big number of extra offices, say two on the south side and two on the north side, with the large central office which the Minister contemplates.
We cannot have a debate on this matter now.
It is not proposed to do that.
What would be the disadvantages of having an office in Dún Laoghaire?
The extra cost, for one thing. There would be a tremendous difference in the cost of running two offices compared with one. Secondly, there would be the question of transferring files from one office to the other. The Dún Laoghaire files are at present in the Dublin office and all of them would have to be transferred manually from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire.
The disadvantages are not to the public but to the administration.
The disadvantages are to the public because they would have to pay for them.
They are to the administration. The public will have to pay anyway.