Tuesday, 23 Jan 2018

Written Answers Nos. 490-509

Better Energy Homes Scheme Data

Questions (490)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

490. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the energy upgrade work funded by his Department over the past four years, by county and programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3318/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department.  The Programme consists of three main schemes: Homes, Warmer Homes and Communities.

  Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes.  Better Energy Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable to energy poverty.  Better Energy Communities supports energy efficiency upgrades to mixed projects of homes, community facilities and businesses in a local community; projects under this scheme can cross county boundaries.

These schemes are supplemented by the Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme which was launched as a pilot scheme under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The aim of the scheme, a joint policy initiative between my Department and the Department of Health, which began in 2016, is to demonstrate the positive effects that making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and wellbeing of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition. An independent research project is underway alongside the scheme's delivery and will assess the impact the scheme is having. As a pilot scheme, it is currently available in Dublin as it is critical to build the capacity of the HSE public health team and allow for the level of support required by participants in this innovative project.

Table 1: spend across the Better Energy area 2014-17. 

Programme	2014 Spend	2015 Spend	2016 Spend	2017 Spend
Better Energy Homes	€9.91m	€14.33m	€17.03m	€16.33m
Better Energy Warmer Homes	€20.65m	€18.14m	€20.68m	€22.62m
Better Energy Communities	€15.3m	€13.57m	€16.71m	€22.7m
Warmth & Wellbeing	N/A	N/A	€0.5m	€6.5m
Total	€45.86m	€46.04m	€54.92m	€68.15m

Table 2: Number of households that availed of grants under the Better Energy Homes scheme and number of measures taken up.

Better Energy Warmer Homes

County				Number of homes completed				Number of measures
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2014	2015	2016	2017
Carlow	114	134	142	158	284	318	330	386
Cavan	145	188	193	134	400	480	477	311
Clare	225	233	297	297	619	594	741	723
Cork	1524	1761	2180	1765	4190	4386	5225	4268
Donegal	173	234	158	157	424	542	372	366
Dublin	3235	4341	4814	4791	7665	9790	10688	10778
Galway	558	730	796	811	1556	1945	2004	2050
Kerry	295	333	427	373	805	883	1065	927
Kildare	455	613	650	751	1137	1426	1464	1665
Kilkenny	134	144	224	123	381	373	561	317
Laois	101	139	266	230	268	357	652	560
Leitrim	54	48	40	46	130	117	96	117
Limerick	366	449	1024	965	947	1083	2304	2321
Longford	49	44	35	109	130	118	94	274
Louth	317	387	502	539	797	894	1157	1200
Mayo	231	306	434	386	634	804	1082	1000
Meath	350	459	645	605	866	1065	1463	1341
Monaghan	77	64	81	73	204	161	194	173
Offaly	105	129	154	181	284	320	377	453
Roscommon	78	86	167	120	203	206	419	292
Sligo	94	100	123	108	252	249	298	265
Tipperary	211	358	505	378	563	913	1268	921
Waterford	270	341	423	328	729	800	979	744
Westmeath	144	166	254	211	377	406	596	515
Wexford	338	496	513	480	942	1335	1265	1237
Wicklow	284	329	414	500	701	789	927	1149
Total	9,927	12,612	15,461	14,619	25,488	30,354	36,098	34,353

Table 3: Works provided under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme. 

Number of Homes completed

County
Carlow	220	234	94	81
Cavan	218	153	91	89
Clare	143	76	119	220
Cork	849	474	465	608
Donegal	460	356	306	252
Dublin	1234	1730	838	1598
Galway	423	319	246	516
Kerry	340	155	127	134
Kildare	287	595	273	151
Kilkenny	189	115	244	66
Laois	155	85	300	79
Leitrim	292	72	48	54
Limerick	339	87	205	230
Longford	346	129	82	61
Louth	230	159	532	152
Mayo	468	290	287	455
Meath	318	233	685	172
Monaghan	147	76	45	39
Offaly	210	122	336	101
Roscommon	451	115	77	83
Sligo	172	77	131	192
Tipperary	396	154	202	300
Waterford	252	142	108	233
Westmeath	262	416	171	126
Wexford	435	318	295	421
Wicklow	220	185	436	141
Total	9,056	6,867	6,743	6,554

Illegal Dumping

Questions (491)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

491. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding given to each local authority for the express purpose of cleaning up illegally dumped materials, by county, in tabular form. [3319/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department encourages a multi-facetted approach to tackling the problem of illegal dumping, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education. As such and in recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, an anti-dumping initiative was launched by me in 2017. The aim of this initiative is to provide funding for projects tackling illegal dumping, including the provision of support for the clean-up, monitoring and surveillance of dumping black-spots. I allocated funding of almost €1.3 million from the Environment Fund for this purpose.

These funds have been used to support 229 clean-up and restorative projects led by community, environmental and sporting groups across the country. Funds have also been made available to equip local authority enforcement officers with the latest technologies available to support enforcement of our waste laws. Through the deployment of overt and covert surveillance equipment, the use of drone technology and mobile workforce applications, we are making the risk of detection high enough to deter those prepared to engage in illegal waste practices.

In addition and in recognition of the particular difficulties border counties have experienced in dealing with diesel laundering waste dumping, my Department has also fully reimbursed the clean-up costs associated with this nefarious practice with payments of €174,906 and €49,307 being made to Louth and Monaghan County Councils respectively in 2017.

The allocations made to each local authority under the 2017 Anti-Dumping Initiative are detailed in the following table.

LOCAL AUTHORITY	€
CARLOW COUNTY COUNCIL	40,333
CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL	68,975
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL	39,455
CORK CITY COUNCIL	29,500
CORK COUNTY COUNCIL	40,229
DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL	68,728
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL	20,000
DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL	19,031
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL	16,728
GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL	67,663
GALWAY CITY COUNCIL	44,579
KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL	35,720
KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL	41,198
KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL	25,741
LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL	40,691
LEITRIM COUNTY COUNCIL	81,438
LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL	39,893
LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL	18,892
LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL	44,619
MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL	29,946
MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL	34,219
MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL	40,124
OFFALY COUNTY COUNCIL	40,000
ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL	54,659
SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL	34,035
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL	28,559
TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL	53,449
WATERFORD CITY  AND COUNTY COUNCIL	29,739
WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCIL	66,360
WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL	38,192
WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL	24,012
Total	1,256,705

Departmental Funding

Questions (492)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

492. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the bodies or organisations that are scheduled to receive in excess of €1 million from his Department's vote of expenditure or the group of votes of expenditure connected with his Department in 2018 for the provision of services, by the body or the organisation concerned; the amount involved in each case; if there is a signed service level agreement in place in respect of the services to be carried out by these bodies or organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3320/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I have set out in the following table the information sought in relation to bodies and organisations that are scheduled to receive in excess of €1 million from my Department's Vote in 2018 in respect of the provision of services.

Body/Organisation	Amount     €m	Agreement in Place
Digital Hub Development Agency	1.0	Service Level Agreement
Enterprise Ireland (Trading Online Voucher Scheme)	3.0	Service Level Agreement
National Digital Research Centre	1.9	Concession Agreement and Service Level Agreement
RTÉ	191	Oversight Agreement
TG4	35.8	Oversight Agreement (with TG4 for signature)
BAI	14.7	Oversight Agreement
An Post (collection of TV licences)	12.5	Service Level Agreement
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland	152.6	Service Level Agreement
Marine Institute (INFOMAR mapping project)	2.0	Service Level Agreement
Inland Fisheries Ireland	30.4	Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement
Loughs Agency	2.7	Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement
Environment Protection Agency	37.4	Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement are being finalised following expiry of existing Service Level Agreement
Meath County Council (Landfill Remediation)	2.0	Agreement will be in place prior to project commencement
Tipperary County Council (Landfill Remediation)	1.25	Agreement will be in place prior to project commencement
Kildare County Council (Landfill Remediation)	5.5	Memorandum of Understanding

Air Quality

Questions (493)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

493. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the location and operational status of each air quality monitoring station. [3322/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Following a public consultation process, the Environmental Protection Agency has published the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme 2017-2022. The new programme is built around three key pillars of an enhanced and expanded national ambient air quality monitoring network; improved modelling and forecasting capability; and citizen science/engagement initiatives to encourage greater understanding and involvement of the public in air quality issues.

I fully support this important initiative by the EPA and have committed funding of some €5 million over the lifetime of the programme.

The new national ambient air quality monitoring network outlined in the programme will provide the following three tiers of data:

- Tier 1: The existing Clean Air for Europe Directive (CAFE) network of monitoring stations, enhanced and fully automated.

- Tier 2: This network will, when completed, consist of the CAFE network, extended with the addition of 38 new air monitoring stations.

- Tier 3: “Local” air quality monitoring facilities. This monitoring network will be established in partnership with local authorities, providing local data for communities as well as contributing to the overview national air quality.

The current location and operational status of the Tier 1 and 2 national ambient air quality monitoring stations is outlined in the following table.

Station Name	County	Operational Status
Ennis	Clare	Operating as part of the national network
Southlink road	Cork	Operating as part of the national network
CIT	Cork	Operating as part of the national network
Heatherton Park	Cork	Operating as part of the national network
UCC	Cork	Currently being commissioned
Ballyfermot	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Blanchardstown	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Clonskeagh	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Coleraine Street	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Dun Laoghaire	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Finglas	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Marino	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Phoenix Park	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Rathmines	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Ringsend	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Swords	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Tallaght	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Winetavern Street	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Rosemount	Dublin	Operating as part of the national network
Davitt Road	Dublin	Currently decommissioned pending re-commissioning in 2018
Dundalk	Louth	Currently being commissioned
Bodkin Roundabout	Galway	Station currently being relocated
Mace Head	Galway	Operating as part of the national network
Valentia	Kerry	Operating as part of the national network
Seville Lodge	Kilkenny	Operating as part of the national network
Emo Court	Laois	Operating as part of the national network
Portlaoise	Laois	Operating as part of the national network
Enniscorthy	Wexford	Currently being re-commissioned
Shannon Estuary	Limerick	Operating as part of the national network
Longford Town	Longford	Operating as part of the national network
Castlebar	Mayo	Operating as part of the national network
Claremorris	Mayo	Operating as part of the national network
Kilkitt	Monaghan	Operating as part of the national network
Bray	Wicklow	Operating as part of the national network

The current location and status of the Tier 3 local air quality monitoring stations is outlined in the following table.

Station Name	County	Status
Wexford Town	Wexford	Operational as a local air quality monitoring station
New Ross	Wexford	Operational as a local air quality monitoring station
Limerick City	Limerick	Operational as a local air quality monitoring station
Mungret	Limerick	Operational as a local air quality monitoring station
Castletroy	Limerick	Operational as a local air quality monitoring station

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (494)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

494. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions being taken to ensure that commercial operators follow through on their commitments to deliver high speed broadband services to areas marked in blue and light blue on the high speed broadband map; the deadline within which such works must be completed by commercial operators; the estimated completion dates for each blue and light blue area in each county, in tabular form; if there is a provision for redesignation of these areas as State intervention areas if the services are not delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3323/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. Under the terms of this Commitment Agreement, eir has committed to passing these premises by the end of 2018. The number of premises to be passed every quarter is set out in the Commitment Agreement, a copy of which is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

Estimated deployment dates are provided for eir’s rural deployment on its website www.fibrerollout.ie. Individuals can themselves check deployment dates for their area by entering their eircode into the roll out map available on the website.

As per the obligations of the Commitment Agreement, officials from my Department meet with eir on a monthly basis to review the company’s performance. The purpose of these review meetings is for eir to report progress against each sub-milestone task and also to identify any risks or issues and their associated risk mitigation plans. These sub-milestones cover the tasks that are required to deliver high speed broadband to premises within the Planned Rural Deployment area. A detailed definition of each sub-milestone is provided in the Commitment Agreement. As of Q3 2017 eir had met all milestones laid out under the Commitment Agreement, having passed over 101,000 premises. Information submitted for Q4 have not yet been verified by the Department. 

There is provision within the Commitment Agreement for the re-designation of the LIGHT BLUE areas as State intervention areas. The Commitment Agreement provides me with the right to change the Intervention area and incorporate premises from the LIGHT BLUE area into the AMBER area where eir fail to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement.

While there is no commitment agreement in place with commercial operators for the BLUE areas of the High Speed Broadband Map, my Department continues to monitor deployment progress and any issues that arise.  Where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises within a BLUE area do not materialise, it is my intention that the implementation of the NBP will overcome these issues and that all premises will be able to access high-speed broadband services.

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Questions (495)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

495. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of businesses that were awarded online trading vouchers in 2017, by county. [3333/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department's Trading Online Voucher Scheme is designed to support micro businesses (10 or less employees, less than €2 million turnover) to develop their trading online capability. The scheme specifically targets businesses who are not yet trading online or doing so in a very limited away. This is a demand-led scheme, which is funded by my Department, and delivered in every county by the Local Enterprise Office.

The process of reporting on the Trading Online Voucher Scheme end-year outturn is currently underway. The following table provides preliminary information on the number of successful applications in each county in 2017. It indicates that over 1,000 businesses throughout Ireland were awarded a trading online voucher in 2017.

Local Enterprise Office	Preliminary Figures for Trading Online Vouchers Approved in 2017
Carlow	12
Cavan	20
Clare	32
Cork City	33
Cork North/West	44
Cork South	36
Donegal	47
Dublin City	140
Dublin South	38
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown	78
Fingal	51
Galway	43
Kerry	60
Kildare	42
Kilkenny	28
Laois	11
Leitrim	12
Limerick	49
Longford	15
Louth	55
Mayo	29
Meath	30
Monaghan	17
Offaly	15
Roscommon	22
Sligo	22
Tipperary	37
Waterford	42
Westmeath	29
Wexford	33
Wicklow	67
TOTAL	1,189

Illegal Dumping

Questions (496)

John Lahart

Question:

496. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent in 2017 and to date in 2018 on illegal dumping and fly tipping by each of the four local authorities in Dublin, in tabular form. [3344/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.

My role, as Minister, is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement action against illegal dumping is initiated. Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) of the EPA as appropriate. My Department provides annual funding to support the activities of a network of local authority waste enforcement officers. In this regard, the enforcement grant allocations made to the four local authorities in Dublin in 2017 are detailed in the following table.

LOCAL AUTHORITY	€
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL	982,000
DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN	480,000
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL	220,000
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL	130,000
Total	1,812,000

In recognition of the impact of illegal dumping on communities across the country, I launched an anti-dumping initiative in 2017 to provide funding for projects tackling illegal dumping including the provision of support for the clean-up, monitoring and surveillance of dumping black-spots. These funds have been used to support 229 clean-up and restorative projects led by community, environmental and sporting groups across the country.  The 2017 anti-dumping initiative allocations made to each of the four local authorities in Dublin are detailed in the following table.

LOCAL AUTHORITY	€
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL	20,000
DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN	19,031
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL	16,728
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL	28,559
Total	84,318

Child Protection

Questions (497)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

497. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 28 November 2017, if the issue of loot boxes and other in-app purchases in video games with a PEGI rating of under 18 years of age can be included in the discussions his departmental officials have undertaken or will undertake regarding the protection of children online from a cross-governmental perspective. [3392/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I have no function in relation to video games or the PEGI rating system.

Departmental Bodies Data

Questions (498)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

498. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of agencies, boards or other bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been disbanded or amalgamated or whose functions were subsumed back into his Department since 2011; the number of such bodies set up by his Department since that date; the names of the bodies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3399/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in November 2012.

On 1 January 2016 corporate governance of Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) transferred from my Department to the Department of Justice and Equality.  The transfer was to facilitate the merger of Ordnance Survey Ireland with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office.  Tailte Éireann is the name of the Government body to be formed from the merger of those three offices.

On 14 January 2015, the Government approved my Department’s proposals for the merger of the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) with Dublin City Council (DCC) by means of an independent company, wholly owned by DCC, and the drafting of Heads of Bill to effect the merger. Drafting of the necessary legislative provisions to provide for the dissolution of the DHDA and the transfer of assets, functions and responsibilities to DCC is being progressed.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 15 December 2015 for the merger of certain back-office administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) was merged with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014.  Primary Legislation to deal with legal issues in the Radiological Protection Act 1991 and to give effect to the transfer of certain  functions therein from the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local to my Department is currently being progressed.

There have been two Groups established by my Department since 2011.  The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) was established on 18 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.  Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT) was established on 1 November 2015 as an approved body under the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007, to replace the previous Compliance Scheme for Tyres – Tyre Recovery Activity Compliance Scheme (TRACS).

Personal Injury Claims

Questions (499)

Michael McGrath

Question:

499. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount paid out and the number of claims the payouts related to by each agency under the aegis of his Department in respect of personal injury claims in each of the years 2010 to 2017; the number of claims that were settled outside of court in each of these years; the number of payments that were as a result of a court judgment in each of these years; the nature of the claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3416/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The information requested regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (500)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

500. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of motor tax paid online; the amount paid in person at a local authority office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2765/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Total gross motor tax receipts for 2017 were €1,021,442,924. Of this €739,880,110 was collected via motor tax online. Total gross receipts for motor tax offices for 2017 were €281,562,814.

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (501)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

501. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of motor tax collected in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the amount collected by year and vehicle category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2766/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Details of motor tax receipts by vehicle category are set out in the following table for the years 2015 to 2017.  The table also includes miscellaneous receipts.  The vehicle category receipts include arrears of motor tax paid.  

-	2015	2016	2017
	€	€	€
Private vehicles based on CO2	242,041,218	285,720,502	333,478,128
Private vehicles based on engine capacity	679,579,488	602,363,979	519,772,128
Goods vehicles	173,201,798	137,883,451	141,748,685
Large Public Service Vehicles/Youth &   Community Buses	2,744,906	2,922,389	3,050,846
Off-road dumpers	25,696	27,362	25,931
General haulage tractors	2,435,734*	291,897	270,462
Machine/workshop/contrivance vehicles	1,990,717	1,959,244	1,931,220
Island vehicles	105,433	93,631	84,204
Agricultural tractors, trench diggers and   excavators	9,531,160	9,353,581	9,406,931
Motor caravans	1,132,846	1,163,294	1,237,243
Hearses	101,681	102,942	105,426
Dumpers and forklift trucks	302,070	304,025	318,596
Taxis and hackneys	2,138,950	2,108,225	2,083,914
School buses	75,321	73,342	66,222
Cycles and tricycles	3,316,342	3,416,856	3,610,610
Vintage and veteran vehicles	2,608,169	2,650,613	2,776,513
Miscellaneous receipts	3,020,276	1,197,111	1,475,865
Total	1,124,351,805	1,051,632,444	1,021,442,924

*high figure due to temporary re-classification of certain goods vehicles to the general haulage tractor category following Court of Appeal judgment of 21 October 2015 in Director of Public Prosecutions and Perennial Freight.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (502)

Tom Neville

Question:

502. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding support for a business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2773/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of my Department has arranged a meeting with the individual concerned to discuss the matter with a view to resolving it. 

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Questions (503)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

503. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regime for roadside testing of drivers in respect of cannabis; the way in which the legal limit or driving under the influence is defined in view of the fact that cannabis can stay in the bloodstream for long periods of time even though the driver may not be impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The legislation in relation to drug driving was updated significantly by the Road Traffic Act 2016.  This legislation provided for preliminary tests for the presence of drugs, as well as specifying legal limits of certain drugs, including cannabis, while driving or in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle. 

The roadside tests of oral fluid, to which the Deputy refers, are preliminary rather than evidential, and in this sense mirror roadside breath tests for alcohol.  They exist to assist members of An Garda Síochána in forming an opinion as to whether a person has consumed drugs. 

Where a person is arrested on suspicion of driving while over the limit of cannabis following a preliminary test, they will be required to provide a specimen of blood for evidential testing.  The limits for cannabis and other drugs were set based on expert scientific advice and international experience.  These drug limits apply for blood only, unlike in the case of alcohol, where there are limits set for blood, breath and urine.  This is precisely because blood is the best indicator of recent use in the case of drugs.

Road Projects Status

Questions (504)

Micheál Martin

Question:

504. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected date for delivering the new M20 Cork to Limerick road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects  is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.

The current position regarding the Cork to Limerick road link is that the extra funding provided as a result of the Capital Plan Review in the period to 2021, means that TII is continuing to progress project appraisal and planning work on the link.

Decisions in relation to the construction phase of the project will be taken in light of  funding provision  in the proposed 10 year capital investment plan.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Motor Tax

Questions (505)

Niall Collins

Question:

505. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The abolition of paper motor tax discs is not currently being considered in my Department. Any replacement of the requirement for the display of discs on vehicle windscreens would need to be considered in the context of the level of application of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) by An Garda Siochána, in order to ensure that adequate enforcement levels are maintained.

As you may be aware, the abolition of the motor tax disc took effect in the U.K. from 1 October 2014. In that jurisdiction, a vehicle excise duty evasion survey is carried out on a bi-annual basis. The results of the survey carried out in 2015, the first following the abolition of the disc, found that the rate of unlicensed vehicles observed on the road was much higher than had been observed in the previous survey in 2013, prior to the abolition of the disc. The survey concluded that the increase was probably due to the changes in the vehicle licensing system which took effect from October 2014, which included the abolition of the disc. The 2017 survey, published on 16 November 2017, found that the rate of unlicensed vehicles observed on the road had increased since the 2015 survey.

The Cost of Insurance Working Group, chaired by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Mr. Eoghan Murphy, T.D., in his former role as Minister of State at the Department of Finance, published a Report on the cost of motor insurance in January 2017. The Group considered the issue of the abolition of the paper-based insurance disc as part of its deliberations. The decision of the Working Group was that it was not recommending the phasing out of the paper-based insurance disc. In arriving at its conclusion, the Group noted the experience in the U.K. following the removal of the paper motor tax disc and, in terms of enforcement, set out that Ireland is not yet in a position to underpin an enforcement regime where technology would be the primary method of enforcement. In relation to the use of ANPR, the Group recommended that the phasing out of the paper insurance disc should be reviewed in the future as the development of technology progresses. The continued use of the paper motor tax disc will also be kept under review in that context.

The replacement of motor tax with increased fuel charges is also not being considered at the current time. In order to maintain the tax base currently realised from motor tax, an increase in fuel duty in the order of some 30c per litre would be required, with direct negative impacts on the rate of inflation and economic competitiveness. As indicated in the Question, goods vehicles and other high usage and high mileage vehicles, such as public service vehicles and buses, would have higher costs under a pay-as-you-drive system. There would be other distributional effects, including on those with longer distances to commute.

A significant increase in fuel duty would lead to an increase in cross-Border fuel purchasing, further depressing the tax base and requiring a compensatory adjustment to make up the shortfall. The potential for an increase in fuel laundering is also clear in this regard. Any benefits to replacing motor tax with fuel duty would have to be weighed against these issues, and others, before any such change could be contemplated.

In relation to the environmental issues raised in the Question, motor tax for pre-2008 cars is based on engine size. The basis of charging from 2008 onwards is on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The public consultation process on the proposed changes, in December 2006, made it clear from the outset that the objective of the new motor tax system was to influence the future purchasing decisions of consumers in favour of lower carbon emitting vehicles. European Environment Agency (EEA) statistics show that the average emissions of new cars in Ireland in 2001 was 166.6 grams per kilometre (g/km), reducing to 161.6g/km in 2007, just prior to the introduction of the new system. The average emissions of new cars entering the fleet in 2015 was 114g/km, ahead of the EU target of 130g/km set out in EU Regulation No. 443 of 2009 which sets performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light duty vehicles. It is, therefore, clear that the measure has been successful from an environmental perspective in reducing emissions from CO2. The issue of emissions from diesel cars will be considered in the context of the Clean Air Strategy being developed by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr. Denis Naughten, T.D.

In respect of payment periods, motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960s.

The differential takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of my Department (which operates the online motor tax system) in processing non-annual renewals, as well as the resultant administrative and printing costs that arise, including the issuing of renewal notices. Each quarterly renewal of motor tax follows the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Consequently, renewing on a quarterly basis generates four times the workload of an annual renewal for the equivalent period.

The loss of income that would arise from changing these arrangements would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or through the taxation system generally.

On the basis of the current payment arrangements, the number of motor tax discs issued each year is in the order of some 5m discs. The introduction of a facility whereby a motor tax disc can be taken out on a monthly basis would significantly increase the volume of discs and renewals, with a resultant increase in the costs of operating the motor tax system administratively and in terms of financial costs and controls, including bank charges, which are not currently met by vehicle owners.

In respect of a system of payment by direct debit, it should be noted such a proposal would require significant additional enforcement provisions to recoup income lost to the taxpayer where there are insufficient funds in personal accounts to meet the payment or where the direct debit option is cancelled after a disc has been issued, as well as provisions to enable recovery of a disc in such circumstances.

Coast Guard Services

Questions (506)

Barry Cowen

Question:

506. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the principal response agency the Irish Coast Guard falls under for the purposes of emergency planning. [3207/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Irish Coast Guard is designated as a principal emergency service and is part of the Irish Maritime Administration of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It does not fall under either of the three Principal Response Agencies.

Motor Tax

Questions (507)

Paul Murphy

Question:

507. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will exempt the Blood Bikes Ireland scheme from motor taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3325/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Under current motor tax legislation exemptions are allowed for state-owned vehicles and vehicles such as fire engines, ambulances and those used exclusively for mountain and cave rescue. Under the current system there is no provision for the exemption of motor tax for vehicles such as those used by Blood Bikes. 

There are no plans at present to extend the list of vehicles which are exempt from motor tax.

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (508)

Michael McGrath

Question:

508. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of motor tax collected for private car CO2 broken down by each tax band between 2013 and 2017, inclusive; the number of private cars on which motor tax was collected by each tax band between 2013 and 2017, inclusive; the extra amount of motor tax collected for private car CO2 as a result of motor tax having been paid biannually by each tax band between 2013 and 2017, inclusive; the number of private cars on which motor tax was collected biannually by each tax band between 2013 and 2017, inclusive; the extra amount of motor tax collected for private car CO2 as a result of motor tax having been paid quarterly by each tax band between 2013 and 2017, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following was received on 13 February 2018

understand that the data requested is in respect of both private vehicles taxed on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and private vehicles taxed on engine capacity.

Total receipts for motor tax for private vehicles (excluding payments of arrears) is set out below by tax band for the years 2013 to 2017 inclusive.

Total motor tax receipts for private vehicles 2013 - 2017

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	2013* €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
Not over 1,000	23,585,044	22,738,602	21,004,858	18,588,612	15,819,011
1,001 to 1,100	1,763,086	1,713,286	1,611,521	1,494,922	1,338,771
1,101 to 1,200	27,600,335	26,491,698	24,426,132	21,712,779	18,446,364
1,201 to 1,300	35,545,367	33,646,084	30,593,071	26,814,972	23,035,487
1,301 to 1,400	150,131,234	144,686,195	134,340,079	120,526,609	105,236,884
1,401 to 1,500	22,039,827	21,444,248	20,058,042	18,054,779	15,811,986
1,501 to 1,600	120,528,240	116,633,388	108,804,784	98,545,732	87,765,722
1,601 to 1,700	3,192,790	3,117,474	2,924,146	2,562,451	2,192,790
1,701 to 1,800	56,752,066	53,915,831	49,050,485	43,161,570	36,883,654
1,801 to 1,900	82,310,197	80,248,273	73,717,250	64,057,748	53,780,263
1,901 to 2,000	113,391,426	108,820,666	98,597,878	86,205,028	73,575,236
2,001 to 2,100	344,642	323,904	290,870	239,974	187,959
2,101 to 2,200	18,663,398	18,105,289	16,468,485	14,436,803	12,362,971
2,201 to 2,300	6,490,922	6,452,164	6,060,526	5,474,328	4,753,377
2,301 to 2,400	3,232,937	2,921,297	2,563,807	2,269,880	1,943,441
2,401 to 2,500	18,375,182	17,216,767	15,274,918	13,116,713	11,128,180
2,501 to 2,600	1,751,382	1,636,363	1,421,961	1,246,729	1,022,857
2,601 to 2,700	4,232,298	3,655,280	2,877,729	2,198,461	1,655,794
2,701 to 2,800	5,708,905	5,223,947	4,395,715	3,669,394	3,282,003
2,801 to 2,900	306,820	229,742	154,888	108,334	76,709
2,901 to 3,000	23,809,528	21,527,945	17,734,145	15,028,745	12,909,621
3,001 or more	16,083,330	14,294,705	11,934,260	10,123,138	8,800,912
Electrical	4,647	5,058	6,978	6,723	8,238
Total	735,843,603	705,048,206	644,312,528	569,644,424	492,018,230

* includes some transactions paid at 2012 motor tax rates.

CO 2 Band	2013* €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
A0	35,584	59,769	125,958	193,029	326,997
A1	10,476	38,970	180,280	498,390	919,964
A2	2,175,030	5,749,353	10,726,806	17,376,707	23,827,824
A3	6,180,705	10,767,933	18,149,052	27,732,238	37,490,101
A4	28,278,211	35,664,872	42,233,421	52,187,784	62,577,286
B1	22,690,439	28,211,130	33,963,764	41,014,706	48,626,006
B2	41,863,760	48,816,437	54,452,806	58,555,212	63,942,934
C	30,234,312	34,033,782	36,822,830	39,658,192	43,010,804
D	17,186,439	18,802,147	19,958,643	20,746,119	22,068,494
E	9,272,616	9,923,331	10,528,646	11,055,702	11,942,957
F	6,047,795	6,713,865	6,848,580	6,810,957	7,025,574
G	1,701,523	1,704,592	1,656,757	1,612,247	1,746,252
Total	165,676,890	200,486,181	235,647,543	277,441,283	323,505,193

* includes some transactions paid at 2012 motor tax rates.

My Department compiles statistics on the number of motor tax discs issued, rather than the number of vehicles taxed. As motor tax can be paid annually, half-yearly or quarterly, many motorists will tax their vehicles more than once during a given year. The number of motor tax discs issued for the years 2013 to 2017 are set out in the tables below, by annual, half-yearly and quarterly transactions.

Number of discs for private vehicles 2017

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
Not over 1,000	37,897	24,818	99,063	161,778
1,001 to 1,100	1,674	1,649	6,740	10,063
1,101 to 1,200	17,878	18,757	98,001	134,636
1,201 to 1,300	23,934	22,125	99,865	145,924
1,301 to 1,400	96,124	85,848	462,440	644,412
1,401 to 1,500	11,581	13,577	68,275	93,433
1,501 to 1,600	45,728	53,390	338,244	437,362
1,601 to 1,700	1,088	1,147	8,207	10,442
1,701 to 1,800	17,153	17,480	110,734	145,367
1,801 to 1,900	17,471	24,730	172,621	214,822
1,901 to 2,000	26,282	29,464	216,531	272,277
2,001 to 2,100	48	78	413	539
2,101 to 2,200	3,747	3,894	25,177	32,818
2,201 to 2,300	1,333	1,425	9,440	12,198
2,301 to 2,400	679	711	2,856	4,246
2,401 to 2,500	3,315	3,120	18,620	25,055
2,501 to 2,600	255	264	1,379	1,898
2,601 to 2,700	347	366	2,417	3,130
2,701 to 2,800	913	957	3,248	5,118
2,801 to 2,900	18	10	105	133
2,901 to 3,000	3,587	2,855	12,284	18,726
3,001 or more	2,262	1,609	6,057	9,928
Electrical	67	3	0	70
Total	313,381	308,277	1,762,717	2,384,375

CO 2 Band	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
A0	2,420	275	559	3,254
A1	4,703	661	1,215	6,579
A2	107,297	24,036	42,696	174,029
A3	157,929	36,367	69,152	263,448
A4	241,215	59,954	137,132	438,301
B1	126,893	46,796	97,267	270,956
B2	151,388	62,985	149,261	363,634
C	61,098	33,959	107,704	202,761
D	19,828	11,622	44,062	75,512
E	8,735	4,638	16,409	29,782
F	3,246	2,143	5,024	10,413
G	450	276	496	1,222
Total	885,202	283,712	670,977	1,839,891

Number of discs for private vehicles 2016

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
Not over 1,000	45,264	28,626	114,861	188,751
1,001 to 1,100	1,949	1,815	7,294	11,058
1,101 to 1,200	21,865	22,343	111,920	156,128
1,201 to 1,300	28,254	25,580	115,200	169,034
1,301 to 1,400	113,650	97,455	518,643	729,748
1,401 to 1,500	13,838	15,289	76,194	105,321
1,501 to 1,600	54,118	61,023	367,845	482,986
1,601 to 1,700	1,306	1,362	9,425	12,093
1,701 to 1,800	20,964	21,078	125,190	167,232
1,801 to 1,900	22,427	30,529	197,774	250,730
1,901 to 2,000	32,927	35,557	244,087	312,571
2,001 to 2,100	76	94	486	656
2,101 to 2,200	4,710	4,699	27,915	37,324
2,201 to 2,300	1,663	1,726	10,251	13,640
2,301 to 2,400	836	844	3,157	4,837
2,401 to 2,500	4,201	3,717	20,830	28,748
2,501 to 2,600	350	308	1,569	2,227
2,601 to 2,700	462	501	3,175	4,138
2,701 to 2,800	1,118	996	3,432	5,546
2,801 to 2,900	27	16	139	182
2,901 to 3,000	4,457	3,289	13,373	21,119
3,001 or more	2,674	1,878	6,658	11,210
Electrical	53	3	5	61
Total	377,189	358,728	1,979,423	2,715,340

CO 2 Band	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
A0	1,451	148	277	1,876
A1	2,506	439	648	3,593
A2	80,835	16,393	24,070	121,298
A3	119,333	26,276	43,396	189,005
A4	207,784	46,872	96,932	351,588
B1	110,515	37,668	73,199	221,382
B2	145,822	53,990	118,438	318,250
C	59,713	30,352	89,219	179,284
D	20,032	10,515	37,299	67,846
E	8,534	4,200	13,782	26,516
F	3,365	2,011	4,229	9,605
G	443	225	419	1,087
Total	760,333	229,089	501,908	1,491,330

Number of discs for private vehicles 2015

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
Not over 1,000	52,296	31,915	126,559	210,770
1,001 to 1,100	2,224	1,865	7,605	11,694
1,101 to 1,200	25,807	24,944	121,990	172,741
1,201 to 1,300	32,862	28,443	130,661	191,966
1,301 to 1,400	131,503	107,792	562,516	801,811
1,401 to 1,500	16,093	16,761	82,529	115,383
1,501 to 1,600	63,451	68,528	390,762	522,741
1,601 to 1,700	1,569	1,579	10,427	13,575
1,701 to 1,800	25,104	24,233	137,175	186,512
1,801 to 1,900	28,180	35,720	218,045	281,945
1,901 to 2,000	40,558	42,017	266,235	348,810
2,001 to 2,100	102	119	544	765
2,101 to 2,200	5,811	5,384	30,242	41,437
2,201 to 2,300	1,978	1,934	10,817	14,729
2,301 to 2,400	984	963	3,406	5,353
2,401 to 2,500	5,068	4,492	23,314	32,874
2,501 to 2,600	411	374	1,703	2,488
2,601 to 2,700	607	732	3,998	5,337
2,701 to 2,800	1,405	1,210	3,845	6,460
2,801 to 2,900	32	26	216	274
2,901 to 3,000	5,407	4,059	14,908	24,374
3,001 or more	3,309	2,139	7,442	12,890
Electrical	51	4	18	73
Total	444,812	405,233	2,154,957	3,005,002

CO 2 Band	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
A0	949	101	164	1,214
A1	936	148	151	1,235
A2	50,470	10,094	12,858	73,422
A3	79,037	16,443	26,519	121,999
A4	171,372	35,931	70,905	278,208
B1	93,885	29,898	54,737	178,520
B2	141,189	46,944	96,754	284,887
C	58,068	27,375	75,121	160,564
D	20,369	10,039	32,149	62,557
E	8,575	3,976	11,580	24,131
F	3,613	1,895	3,690	9,198
G	458	226	431	1,115
Total	628,921	183,070	385,059	1,197,050

Number of discs for private vehicles 2014

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
Not over 1,000	57,326	34,568	134,433	226,327
1,001 to 1,100	2,450	2,004	7,739	12,193
1,101 to 1,200	29,323	26,951	127,775	184,049
1,201 to 1,300	36,337	31,687	142,212	210,236
1,301 to 1,400	146,513	116,054	588,511	851,078
1,401 to 1,500	18,149	17,883	84,944	120,976
1,501 to 1,600	72,137	74,937	401,365	548,439
1,601 to 1,700	1,699	1,721	10,949	14,369
1,701 to 1,800	29,174	26,748	144,949	200,871
1,801 to 1,900	33,463	39,768	225,759	298,990
1,901 to 2,000	47,722	48,559	279,029	375,310
2,001 to 2,100	120	132	584	836
2,101 to 2,200	6,626	6,413	31,434	44,473
2,201 to 2,300	2,217	2,206	10,832	15,255
2,301 to 2,400	1,200	1,085	3,626	5,911
2,401 to 2,500	5,851	5,348	25,227	36,426
2,501 to 2,600	504	444	1,823	2,771
2,601 to 2,700	822	966	4,826	6,614
2,701 to 2,800	1,793	1,405	4,197	7,395
2,801 to 2,900	40	39	346	425
2,901 to 3,000	6,876	4,977	16,894	28,747
3,001 or more	4,079	2,613	8,405	15,097
Electrical	35	11	4	50
Total	504,456	446,519	2,255,863	3,206,838

CO 2 Band	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
A0	456	45	63	564
A1	212	23	16	251
A2	27,010	5,697	6,471	39,178
A3	47,241	9,592	14,811	71,644
A4	147,609	29,304	51,613	228,526
B1	79,810	24,078	40,458	144,346
B2	130,929	39,831	75,728	246,488
C	56,008	24,497	62,721	143,226
D	20,105	9,356	27,241	56,702
E	8,415	3,662	9,899	21,976
F	3,682	1,800	3,235	8,717
G	453	260	454	1,167
Total	521,930	148,145	292,710	962,785

Number of discs for private vehicles 2013

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
Not over 1,000	61,566	35,525	132,624	229,715
1,001 to 1,100	2,631	1,980	7,736	12,347
1,101 to 1,200	32,667	28,098	125,592	186,357
1,201 to 1,300	39,945	32,767	146,134	218,846
1,301 to 1,400	160,672	120,623	579,517	860,812
1,401 to 1,500	20,445	18,057	81,574	120,076
1,501 to 1,600	81,793	78,914	386,236	546,943
1,601 to 1,700	1,852	1,875	10,596	14,323
1,701 to 1,800	33,326	28,275	143,058	204,659
1,801 to 1,900	38,389	42,066	214,686	295,141
1,901 to 2,000	55,098	53,089	266,817	375,004
2,001 to 2,100	148	137	556	841
2,101 to 2,200	7,475	6,703	29,937	44,115
2,201 to 2,300	2,440	2,222	10,149	14,811
2,301 to 2,400	1,367	1,183	3,911	6,461
2,401 to 2,500	6,691	5,961	24,851	37,503
2,501 to 2,600	554	507	1,837	2,898
2,601 to 2,700	1,035	1,209	5,115	7,359
2,701 to 2,800	2,076	1,548	4,149	7,773
2,801 to 2,900	51	57	461	569
2,901 to 3,000	8,024	5,418	17,374	30,816
3,001 or more	4,794	2,824	8,963	16,581
Electrical	28	16	7	51
Total	563,067	469,054	2,201,880	3,234,001

CO 2 Band	Annual discs	Half-yearly discs	Quarterly discs	Total
A0	244	34	46	324
A1	58	4	5	67
A2	10,245	2,120	2,421	14,786
A3	27,230	5,613	7,880	40,723
A4	119,629	21,973	34,168	175,770
B1	66,132	18,597	27,230	111,959
B2	117,257	31,374	52,770	201,401
C	52,935	20,125	47,686	120,746
D	19,573	8,293	21,189	49,055
E	8,342	3,400	7,595	19,337
F	3,387	1,632	2,645	7,664
G	493	238	351	1,082
Total	425,525	113,403	203,986	742,914

The rates applying to half-yearly and quarterly motor tax discs are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. Motor tax receipts from the difference between these rates and a pro-rata rate of 50% and 25% respectively are set out below.

Difference for half-yearly receipts

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	2013 €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
Not over 1,000	355,288	380,248	351,065	314,886	272,998
1,001 to 1,100	29,704	32,064	29,840	29,040	26,384
1,101 to 1,200	477,694	485,118	448,992	402,174	337,626
1,201 to 1,300	589,845	602,053	540,417	486,020	420,375
1,301 to 1,400	2,292,127	2,437,134	2,263,632	2,046,555	1,802,808
1,401 to 1,500	379,243	411,309	385,503	351,647	312,271
1,501 to 1,600	2,051,944	2,098,236	1,918,784	1,708,644	1,494,920
1,601 to 1,700	50,629	49,909	45,791	39,498	33,263
1,701 to 1,800	904,862	909,432	823,922	716,652	594,320
1,801 to 1,900	1,430,391	1,471,416	1,321,640	1,129,573	915,010
1,901 to 2,000	1,911,441	1,893,801	1,638,663	1,386,723	1,149,096
2,001 to 2,100	6,302	6,468	5,831	4,606	3,822
2,101 to 2,200	328,459	333,476	279,968	244,348	202,488
2,201 to 2,300	113,334	119,124	104,436	93,204	76,950
2,301 to 2,400	61,520	60,760	53,928	47,264	39,816
2,401 to 2,500	327,887	315,532	265,028	219,303	184,080
2,501 to 2,600	33,462	31,524	26,554	21,868	18,744
2,601 to 2,700	83,426	71,484	54,168	37,074	27,084
2,701 to 2,800	109,908	108,185	93,170	76,692	73,689
2,801 to 2,900	4,161	3,081	2,054	1,264	790
2,901 to 3,000	411,792	408,114	332,838	269,698	234,110
3,001 or more	262,674	258,687	211,761	185,922	159,291
Electrical	144	66	24	18	18
Total	12,216,237	12,487,221	11,198,009	9,812,673	8,379,953

CO 2 Band	2013 €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
A0	254	270	606	888	1,650
A1	32	207	1,332	3,951	5,949
A2	16,960	51,273	90,846	147,537	216,324
A3	44,904	95,920	164,430	262,760	363,670
A4	175,784	322,344	395,241	515,592	659,494
B1	223,206	337,092	418,572	527,352	655,144
B2	376,488	597,465	704,160	809,850	944,775
C	362,295	514,437	574,875	637,392	713,139
D	215,658	290,036	311,209	325,965	360,282
E	125,820	150,142	163,016	172,200	190,158
F	101,192	118,800	125,070	132,726	141,438
G	29,512	33,540	29,154	29,025	35,604
Total	1,672,105	2,511,526	2,978,511	3,565,238	4,287,627

Difference for quarterly receipts

Engine capacity band (c.c.)	2013 €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
Not over 1,000	795,863	941,031	885,913	804,027	693,441
1,001 to 1,100	69,631	77,390	76,050	72,940	67,400
1,101 to 1,200	1,256,038	1,405,525	1,341,890	1,231,120	1,078,011
1,201 to 1,300	1,607,620	1,706,544	1,567,932	1,382,400	1,198,380
1,301 to 1,400	6,954,204	7,062,132	6,750,192	6,223,716	5,549,280
1,401 to 1,500	978,987	1,104,272	1,072,877	990,522	887,575
1,501 to 1,600	6,180,162	6,823,205	6,642,954	6,253,365	5,750,148
1,601 to 1,700	169,549	186,133	177,259	160,225	139,519
1,701 to 1,800	2,718,258	2,898,980	2,743,500	2,503,800	2,214,680
1,801 to 1,900	4,294,166	4,966,698	4,796,990	4,351,028	3,797,662
1,901 to 2,000	5,603,701	6,417,667	6,123,405	5,614,001	4,980,213
2,001 to 2,100	15,568	16,936	15,776	14,094	11,977
2,101 to 2,200	868,223	974,454	937,502	865,365	780,487
2,201 to 2,300	304,490	346,624	346,144	328,032	302,080
2,301 to 2,400	121,253	123,284	115,804	107,338	97,104
2,401 to 2,500	795,301	882,945	815,990	729,050	651,700
2,501 to 2,600	71,646	76,566	71,526	65,898	57,918
2,601 to 2,700	209,725	207,518	171,914	136,525	103,931
2,701 to 2,800	174,267	188,865	173,025	154,440	146,160
2,801 to 2,900	20,284	16,262	10,152	6,533	4,935
2,901 to 3,000	781,898	827,806	730,492	655,277	601,916
3,001 or more	493,017	495,895	439,078	392,822	357,363
Electrical	35	12	54	15	0
Total	34,483,886	37,746,744	36,006,419	33,042,533	29,471,880

CO 2 Band	2013 €	2014 €	2015 €	2016 €	2017 €
A0	226	189	492	831	1,677
A1	25	96	906	3,888	7,290
A2	12,105	32,355	64,290	120,350	213,480
A3	39,400	88,866	159,114	260,376	414,912
A4	170,840	309,678	425,430	581,592	822,792
B1	190,676	364,122	492,633	658,791	875,403
B2	369,390	681,552	870,786	1,065,942	1,343,349
C	524,584	815,373	976,573	1,159,847	1,400,152
D	317,891	517,579	610,831	708,681	837,178
E	167,094	237,576	277,920	330,768	393,816
F	95,223	126,165	143,910	164,931	195,936
G	25,623	34,504	32,756	31,844	37,696
Total	1,913,077	3,208,055	4,055,641	5,087,841	6,543,681

Motor Tax

Questions (509)

Michael McGrath

Question:

509. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of implementing a disc free motor tax regime as in certain other countries; the potential law enforcement issues that may result in such a regime; the overall and individual cost of providing motor tax discs; the rationale for charging motorists more for paying biannually and quarterly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3481/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As the abolition of the paper motor tax disc is not under consideration at the present time, the potential cost has not been evaluated.

Any replacement of the requirement for the display of discs on vehicle windscreens would need to be considered in the context of the level of application of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) by An Garda Siochána, in order to ensure that adequate enforcement levels are maintained.

As you may be aware, the abolition of the motor tax disc took effect in the U.K. from 1 October 2014.  In that jurisdiction, a vehicle excise duty evasion survey is carried out on a bi-annual basis.  The results of the survey carried out in 2015, the first following the abolition of the disc, found that the rate of unlicensed vehicles observed on the road was much higher than had been observed in the previous survey in 2013, prior to the abolition of the disc.  The survey concluded that the increase was probably due to the changes in the vehicle licensing system which took effect from October 2014.  The 2017 survey, published on 16 November 2017, found that the rate of unlicensed vehicles observed on the road had increased yet further since the 2015 survey - with significant adverse implications for revenue.

The Cost of Insurance Working Group, chaired by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Mr. Eoghan Murphy, T.D., in his former role as Minister of State at the Department of Finance, published a Report on the cost of motor insurance in January 2017.  The Group considered the issue of the abolition of the paper-based insurance disc as part of its deliberations.  The decision of the Working Group was that it was not recommending the phasing out of the paper-based insurance disc.  In arriving at its conclusion, the Group noted the experience in the U.K. following the removal of the paper motor tax disc and, in terms of enforcement, set out that Ireland is not yet in a position to underpin an enforcement regime where technology would be the primary method of enforcement.  In relation to the use of ANPR, the Group recommended that the phasing out of the paper insurance disc should be reviewed in the future as the development of technology progresses.  The continued use of the paper motor tax disc will also be kept under review in that context.

The cost of producing a single paper disc or the overall volume of discs (some 5m annually) has not been compiled in my Department.  There are a range of costs incurred in the provision of the overall motor tax service, including both staff and non-staff costs, such as payment processing fees and the provision of technology support services.  The 2016 Report of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Administration and Collection of Motor Tax estimated, based on 2014 figures, that the average cost of transacting a motor tax payment in a motor tax office was €10, with a cost of €5 for an online motor tax transaction.  The Report estimated that the total cost of the motor tax service in 2014 was €48.7m, €15.3m in respect of the online service and €33.4m in respect of motor tax offices.  The latter figure includes costs of €14.3m for the provision of motor tax services other than processing of motor tax payments, such as provision of information to certain statutory bodies, including An Garda Síochána and local authorities.  The Local Authority Annual Financial Statement 2015, the most recently available Statement, gives a total local authority cost of €37.4m in respect of motor tax services in 2015. http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current?query=Local%20Authority%20Annual

€12.5m was paid from the Local Government Fund to the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of my Department for the cost of operation of the online motor tax service in 2015 and again in 2016. http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current?query=Local%20Government%20Fund%20Accounts

In respect of payment periods, motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis.  The rates applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively.  These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960s. 

The differential takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division in processing non-annual renewals, as well as the resultant administrative and printing costs that arise, including the issuing of renewal notices.  Each quarterly renewal of motor tax follows the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Consequently, renewing on a quarterly basis generates four times the workload of an annual renewal for the equivalent period.

The loss of income that would arise from changing these arrangements would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or through the taxation system generally.