asked the Taoiseach the reason for the apparent discrepancy between the number, given as 3,057, of used passenger vehicles imported in the period January to November 1987 as indicated in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 16 February 1988 and the number given as 4,827, of imported used private cars re-registered in 1987 as indicated in the reply of the Minister for the Environment to Parliamentary Question No. 152 on the same date.
Written Answers. - Used Vehicle Imports.
32.
Apart from the difference in coverage of one month in the periods to which the figures quoted by the Deputy relate, there are several factors which cause differences in coverage between import figures and registration counts.
The principal difference in coverage relates to vehicles which have been brought into the country by their owners on transfer of residence. Such vehicles are not included in the regular import statistics (the lower figure) but are covered in the re-registration figures.
There are other less significant sources of difference which could affect comparisons between figures from the two different sources such as time-lags between importation and registration, classification differences (type of vehicle for imports, taxation class for re-registrations) etc.