Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Vehicle Registration Tax.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

316 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated by vehicle registration tax for each of the months from January to March 1999; the total figure estimated in the 1999 financial statement; the likely total figure for 1999 in view of current revenue generated by vehicle registration tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10264/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Month	Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) Charged
	£m
January, 1999	96.6
February, 1999	77.3
March, 1999	81.1
Total	255.0

Repayments under various schemes amounted to £4.8 million in the three month period. This leaves a net figure of £250.2 million.

As I said in my Budget Statement, the re-structuring in VRT rates is expected to bring in £43 million in extra revenue. At budget time, the estimated figure for VRT for 1999 was £575.6 million. I am not in a position at this stage to give any outturn figure for 1999 although car sales have been buoyant in the first quarter of the year.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

317 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the EU proposals for the harmonisation of vehicle registration taxes; the measures, if any, which will have to be put in place to ensure Ireland can achieve the EU proposals for harmonisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I am not aware of any harmonisation proposals at EU level in relation to vehicle registration taxes nor are there any proposals from Ireland in this regard.