Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 2

Written Answers. - Car Scrappage Refund.

Mary Wallace

Question:

87 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the current position regarding the £1,000 due to a person (details supplied) in County Meath in respect of the car scrappage scheme in view of the fact that his car was officially scrapped at the official North Eastern scrappage point at Mornington, County Meath, on 22 February 1996 but the Government is failing to pay the £1,000 grant to him as the Revenue Commissioners claim that the car should not have been scrapped until after 4 December 1996; whether the Government will now either return the owner's car to him or pay him the grant; and if he will clarify the position in view of the fact that this person is without a car due to the Government's action. [9412/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that in order to qualify for repayment under the scrappage scheme the vehicle being scrapped must have been first registered not less than ten years before the date on which it is scrapped. This requirement is well known.

In the case in question, the vehicle was first registered — in the UK — on 4 December 1986 and was scrapped on 22 February 1996. It was therefore considerably short of the ten years qualifying requirement and does not qualify for repayment under the scheme.

A certificate of destruction in respect of the scrapped car was furnished by the applicant. It had been issued by a trader approved by the Revenue Commissioners for that purpose. While the precise circumstances in which the vehicle was scrapped are not known responsibility for ensuring — before it is scrapped — that it qualifies under the scheme rests with the owner of the vehicle. It is regretted therefore that the Revenue Commissioners are not in a position to make a repayment in respect of the vehicle.

The case has been the subject of an appeal under the new appeals procedure for excise duty cases introduced on 1 January 1996. While the initial appeal has been turned down, there is provision for the matter to be further appealed to the Appeal Commissioners if the appellant so wishes.