Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Scrappage Scheme Application.

Mary Wallace

Question:

82 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene in an application from a person (details supplied) in County Meath, who has a 13 year old car which he has owned for the past seven years which he wishes to scrap under the scrappage scheme but has been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that due to the fact that he requested his son to drive the car from May 1995 to November 1995 while he was ill and unable to drive, he does not qualify for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15213/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissiners that the original inquiry in this case was received by the Central Repayments Office, Monaghan from a motor car dealer in Navan, County Meath. As it was understood that the son of the person referred to in the question wished to avail of the scheme, a negative response was issued as the vehicle in question had apparently only been road taxed and insured in the son's name since 18 July 1995. In order to quality for repayment, a vehicle must, generally, have been taxed and insured in the applicant's name for at least two years prior to scrapping.

A subsequent letter sent by the Deputy to the Central Repayments Office on 10 July 1996 indicated that the father wished to avail of the scheme and that the son had insured and taxed the car in his (the son's) name for a period in 1995, May to November 1995, while the father was ill, but that the father had then resumed use of the car which had not in fact changed hands.

In the circumstances the Revenue Commissioners will accept an application from the father if he wishes to avail of the scheme provided the vehicle in question is taxed and insured in his name at the time of scrapping and he is registered as the owner of the new vehicle at the time when that vehicle is first registered.