andMr. J. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate the financial effect as a result of the increase in the car registration fee from £10 to £20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Registration Fee.
1.
It is estimated that the increase in the car registration fee from £10 to £20 will yield extra revenue of £6 million in 1981 and £7.75 million in a full year.
In view of the fact that the car registration fee has been increased to £20, which was not the case in 1978, and that the county council road allocation for county roads has been increased by only 5 per cent while costs have increased by 32 per cent, would the Minister not agree that money taken from the motorists, to the tune of £6 million, should be reallocated by the Minister for the Environment to bring the roads up to a standard which will ensure that our motorists will benefit from better roads?
That appears to be a different question which should be put to the Minister for the Environment. However, if the Deputy looks at the allocations for road works this year he will see that there has been a substantial increase over last year's allocation.
On a point of information and as a member of a local authority with full knowledge of what has been granted for national primary roads—I appreciate the increase in that area—it is well known——
A question, please.
Would the Minister of State not agree that the county road allocation is almost the same as that granted in 1979 and although the grants for national primary roads have been increased, the grants for the roads used mostly by the people who have to pay this road tax have not been increased? That is my information as a county councillor.
Is the Minister of State aware that the revenue from the fees will be approximately seven times the cost of the administration of motor registration? Would he agree that the fee should be renamed "motor tax"? It takes only £2 million to administer this scheme and the Minister is taking in £14 million.
I did not get an answer.
That is a hypothetical question.
Does the Minister intend answering any questions?
Would the Minister not accept that to the extent that he is taking in seven times as much as it costs to administer this registration——
This is not motor tax. If the Deputy takes his figures a little further he will see there is a substantial saving——
Yes, from the Government's point of view.
Deputies are looking for information and I will give it to them. If the old tax had been implemented the figure collected would be at least £60 million. This means there is a substantial saving.
The Minister is taking in seven times as much as it costs to administer the scheme.
If Deputies want the tax put on again let them say so.
A final supplementary from Deputy J. Ryan.
It is only logical to expect that if more money is being collected from road users to the tune of £6 million it should be reallocated for our roads which are in a shocking condition.
A question, please, Deputy.
The Minister of State is a county councillor and knows well the conditions of our roads.
Our roads are like those in a Third World country.
Perhaps in Deputy Cluskey's constituency.
In everyone else's too.
I am calling Question No. 2.