Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015
176. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the work being carried out by his Department and the interdepartmental group reviewing road charges and road tax for heavy goods vehicles; when a report will be available from the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/15]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is currently reviewing the system under which motor tax for commercial vehicles is calculated and the rates of motor tax are paid by HGV operators. This review grew out of the work of the Inter-Departmental Group on HGV user charges, which was established in January 2014 to consider the introduction of a 'pay-as-you-go' road tax system for HGVs. The Group is made up of representatives from the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Environment, Community and Local Government; Finance; the National Roads Authority; the Road Safety Authority; An Garda Síochána and Forfás (now part of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation).
The Group is examining the technical, regulatory and economic dimensions of commercial motor tax in Ireland and the potential to introduce a road user charge.
The Group held a stakeholder consultation in November 2014 and canvassed the views of various bodies, including representatives of haulage operators and their customers and representatives of the motor industry in Ireland. The consultation concluded in February 2015. The stakeholders were then invited to join a working group to consider the issues in detail with my Department and the Departments of Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government. Two meetings of this stakeholder working group have been held to date, in March and April.
The Inter-Departmental Group is finalising its report for submission to me and the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government. I expect to receive the report in the coming weeks.
