asked the Minister for the Environment if 10 per cent VAT charge on learner drivers of Motor Schools Association of Ireland is consistent with his road safety campaign.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Learner Drivers.
16.
I do not consider that the application of VAT affects road safety.
Would the Minister not agree that every encouragement should be given to learner drivers to avail of the services of schools of motoring and that the 10 per cent VAT charge on these schools of motoring is a penalty on learner drivers and is completely inconsistent with the road safety campaign initiated by the Minister's Department?
It has been estimated that between 30 and 40 per cent of candidates coming forward for driving tests are pupils of schools of motoring. On the other hand, the application of VAT on the tuition fees of schools of motoring is a function of the Minister for Finance. There is no evidence to suggest that the charging of VAT is in any way inconsistent with the principles of road safety.
Would the Minister recommend to the Minister for Finance that a lower rate of VAT should be charged, or indeed a zero rate?
I have no evidence to suggest that the charging of VAT is in any way inconsistent with the principles of road safety.
Surely anything that deters learner drivers from attending schools of motoring must have a detrimental effect. It is a penalty on learner drivers and a deterrent to them to avail of the services of schools of motoring with consequent bad driving and test failures.
I do not think that the 10 per cent VAT charge will deter any learner driver from taking lessons from schools of motoring.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that driving lessons are a service which unemployed people are very often required to avail of in order to get employment? Does the Minister think it is reasonable that VAT should be charged in case of unemployed people seeking employment by this method?
That is a matter of argument. I am calling the next question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister of State could not answer that one because there is no answer to it.