The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) maintains a record of the registered owners of motor vehicles. Article 10 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI No. 385 of 1992) set out the procedures regarding notification and recording of changes of vehicle ownership. When details of the change of ownership are recorded on the NVDF, a Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) issues to the new owner. The VRC is used to notify any subsequent change of ownership.
In order to cater for isolated instances where the documentation required under the above regulations is not available or cannot be produced, my Department, through administrative process, accepts a declaration sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths, and in accordance with the Statutory Declarations Act 1938, that ownership of a vehicle has changed .
I am informed in the case referred to by the Deputy, that such a declaration was received at my Department's Shannon office on 13 July 2012. In accordance with procedures the Department contacted the owner recorded on the NVDF on 18 July 2012 seeking clarification on whether that person had any continuing interest in the vehicle. That person responded to the Department on 24 July 2012 indicating that they had a continued interest and in light of this information the change to the new owner was not recorded on the NVDF and the parties concerned were informed accordingly. The matter is now for the parties concerned and my Department has not received any further communication on the matter.