Vol. 433 No. 1
117 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Finance if he has any proposals to waive the VRT on motor rallying vehicles; if he intends continuing the temporary exemption to include periods between rallying events; if he will reduce the VRT to a level affordable to motor rally competitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The system of reliefs which applies to rally vehicles under the Vehicle Registration Tax is largely the same as that which applied under the motor vehicle excise duty regime up to end-1992. Under the VRT regime, section 135 (b) of the Finance Act, as amended, provides that vehicles brought temporarily into the State, inter alia, for competition may be exempted by the Revenue Commissioners from registration provided such vehicles are not for sale in the State and the vehicles are intended to be taken out of the State at the end of their purpose in the State. The exemption may be granted by the Commissioners, on written application, to a person whose normal residence is in the State on the condition that she/he provides such security as may be required in respect of the taxes and duties that would normally be payable on the vehicle on registration in the State.
While the Act makes it clear that at the end of the competition the car must be removed from the State, facilities do exist for special application to be made to the Commissioners to allow the car to remain in the State until the start of another competition which must commence within a few days of the previous rally.
As for a reduction in the rate of VRT applicable to rally cars, I have no plans to introduce such a measure.
