Written Answers Nos. 448-468
448. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the public service embargo will apply to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50239/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Irish Water is currently recruiting to build up the internal capabilities required within the organisation and the numbers of staff employed is an operational matter for the organisation. It was agreed by the Steering Group for the Water Sector Reform programme that, to ensure skills within the sector were fully availed of in building up the new organisation, competitions for positions in asset management, capital delivery and operations would be restricted to staff in the partner organisations i.e. Bord Gáis Éireann, local authorities and my Department in the first instance. Open competitions are held for all other positions and details of these are available on Irish Water's website www.water.ie. Data supplied by Irish Water indicate that at present 183 staff have been recruited to the Irish Water organisation with 103 having taken up duty and 80 due to start.
449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline Ireland's position in the negotiations being conducted at the Warsaw climate change conference; if he is concerned by the recent decisions of the governments of Australia, Japan and Canada to downgrade their efforts to combat climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50290/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fundamental objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as set out in Article 2, presents challenges for all Parties. A feature of the ongoing negotiations under the Convention is the clear focus on achieving progress at each Conference of the Parties, notwithstanding unexpected issues that can arise from time to time. After a difficult round of negotiations at this year’s conference in Warsaw, I agree with the EU position that important progress was made, including on a timeline or work plan for the two- year period leading up to the 21st Conference in Paris in December 2015, and agreement by all Parties to bring forward proposed commitments on greenhouse gas mitigation in the post-2020 period well in advance of the Paris conference. In the negotiations at the Warsaw conference, Ireland followed its established position of supporting progressive EU engagement and leadership under both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol.
450. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application to Mayo North East Leader Development Company (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50096/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that an application for funding under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme was submitted to Mayo North East LEADER Partnership in the last fortnight, and it will be assessed in the normal manner.
451. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will advise as to the Dublin City Council budget for the housing adaptations grant with effect from January 2014; if the budget allocation will be increased on the 2013 allocation so as to meet the backlog of applications for this grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50098/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the budget allocation for housing modifications for persons with a disability living in council accommodation will be increased in the coming year in order to deal with the substantial backlog of applications; if he will outline the budget for Dublin City Council for 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50099/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
The Abridged Estimate for my Department, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Expenditure Report 2014, provides some €28.6 million in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The Estimates provision will be supplemented by the recently announced €10 million in additional funding for this measure, giving an overall provision in 2014 of €38.6 million, some €4.3 million more than the initial Exchequer allocation in 2013.
My Department also provides funding to local authorities for a range of measures to improve the quality and standard of the social housing stock, including the energy retrofitting of older properties and the provision of adaptations and extensions to meet the specific needs of tenants. An allocation of € 300,000 was provided to Dublin City Council this year in respect of extensions and adaptations to tenanted properties. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to all local authorities under both measures in early 2014.
453. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department [50133/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department through Met Éireann charges the general public for certain weather forecasting services. The total value of these services for 2012, where the payment was by credit card, was €19,884.72. Commission of 2.5% is charged by the credit card company and the charge for 2012 was €497.12. However, this additional charge is not passed onto the public and is absorbed by Met Éireann. Payments of this nature to agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agency or body concerned.
454. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding his Department's request for repayment of a grant received by a company (details supplied) under the Leader programme from Mayo North East Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50153/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011, my Department's Inspection Service conducted a post payment inspection on the project referred to in the Question and identified ineligible expenditure. This was then subject to the normal appeals procedures. As this is now subject to debt collection and potentially legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for me to comment further in relation to the matter. Due to the level of ineligible expenditure identified, my Department was also required to notify the European Commission as the European co-financed element exceeds €10,000.
455. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a tender report for a wastewater scheme extension will progress (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50166/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ennis/Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme Phase 1 (Clareabbey and Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plants) is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a Scheme to progress through Planning. Following a Review of the Water Services Investment Programme in July 2011, the Upgrade of the Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant was approved for inclusion in the Programme as a Contract to Start at an estimated cost of €2.8 million. My Department is currently examining Clare County Council's Report on Tenders for the upgrade of the Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant and a response will issue to the Council in the coming weeks.
456. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of unfinished housing estates around the country that are to be demolished in 2014 and 2015; the cost of same; the criteria for deciding on demolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50169/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra471. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government where the ghost estates to be demolished are located; the level of completion of these ghost estates; if any attempts were made by local councils to bring those particular estates to completion; the costings that were made to assess the amount it would cost to do so; the amount of the allocated budget to finish these estates that has been availed of by the local councils in 2013; and the cost of the demolition of these ghost estates. [50501/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 471 together.
I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. Site Resolution Plans (SRP’s) have been identified by the NCC as a key tool in resolving issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Such plans enable stakeholders, including developers, local authorities, financial institutions, NAMA and residents to collaborate in determining how best to pursue resolution of problematic sites. The process also entails working with stakeholders in identifying the best long-term solution for developments in terms of their configuration, use of vacant buildings and ownership. Such solutions also take account of the best interests of residents.
The NCC has produced a Guidance Manual on Resolving and Managing Unfinished Estates, a Key Stakeholders Code of Practice, and a Guide for Residents Living in Unfinished Housing Developments, all of which are available at www.housing.ie. Other notable achievements included an assessment of the adequacy of current planning legislation and regulations via the legislative review group, as well as the public safety initiative which secured unsafe aspects of unfinished estates from a health and safety perspective. The NCC has achieved real progress in tackling the issues in unfinished estates as evidenced by the reduction of problematic estates from 2,846 when the Government took office to the current level of just over 1,200, a 53% reduction. It is anticipated that further progress will be made, further buoyed by the €10 million Site Resolution Fund recently provided for in Budget 2014.
It is inevitable however that a number of estates for a variety of reasons will not become viable, and in such cases a return to greenfield status may be the most pragmatic option. In this context relevant local authorities and financial institutions are identifying developments that might fail agreed viability criteria and to date my Department understands that some 40 developments, or more precisely uncompleted parts of same, at unspecified locations may be likely to be returned to greenfield usage. Other sites may emerge in time as unviable and be similarly treated.
My Department does not hold data on the specific sites involved, or on the cost of restoring them to greenfield status, as they are the responsibility of those who currently hold title to them and the cost of site clearance is a matter for them alone and not for my Department. Similarly, local authorities have neither the responsibility nor the right to complete estates which are not within their ownership.
457. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consultations that have taken place with Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council in relation to the proposed amalgamation of both councils under the Local Government Bill 2013; the dates on which the consultations took place; the nature of said consultations; and if they included consultations with local authority members. [50183/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided in July 2011 that an objective review of local government arrangements in Waterford should be carried out. The Waterford Local Government Committee reported in March 2012 and the Government decided, on foot of the report's recommendation, that the City and County Councils in Waterford should be unified to replace the existing councils, with effect from the local elections in 2014. I subsequently appointed an independently chaired Reorganisation Implementation Group to oversee planning, preparatory work and initial implementation of the reorganisation process. The Implementation Plan produced by the Group was published in September 2013, setting out guidance for the completion of the reorganisation process leading to the establishment of the unified authority in mid-2014.
Both the Waterford Local Government Committee and the Reorganisation Implementation Group undertook extensive consultations, including with elected members of all of the Waterford local authorities. The dates of the consultations carried out by the Committee and the Reorganisation Implementation Group are not available to me. My Department continues to engage with the Waterford local authorities on an ongoing basis in relation to the preparations for the establishment of the unified Waterford City and County Council.
458. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to reduce the commercial rates for small and medium enterprises, particularly small retail outlets across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50184/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra459. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a 25% cut in commercial rates over a 24 month period in order to stimulate economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50185/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.
I am acutely aware of the pressures on small and medium-sized businesses at the present time. Local authorities have been asked by my Department to exercise restraint or, where possible, to reduce commercial rates and local charges for 2013. Local authorities have responded well to such requests in recent years and in 2013, 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it the same as in 2012.
Local authorities have a leading role in creating a pro-enterprise supportive environment to generate new jobs and sustain existing ones. They are committed to local economic development, and are best placed to meet many of the needs of businesses, in terms of infrastructure, local promotion and other key enabling measures. Under the Action Plan for Jobs, the local government sector has developed a sectoral strategy, Supporting Economic Recovery and Jobs – Locally, to promote employment and support local enterprise, including measures in the area of business charges, local enterprise and business support arrangements, procurement support, local development and community-based initiatives, the Green Economy and participation in employment support schemes. I will continue to keep the approach to rates by local authorities under active review, and am determined that every avenue will be pursued to optimise efficiency and contain costs in the local government sector.
460. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed cost savings of €440 million through the implementation of the Local Government Bill 2013; where the savings will be made and a county breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50186/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Bill 2013 provides the legislative basis for a range of local government reform measures in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, published in October 2012, which sets out Government policy decisions in relation to the reform of local government structures, functions, governance, funding and operational arrangements. The benefits of the reforms set out in the Action Programme will arise primarily in strengthening the local government system and improving effectiveness and value for money in the sector, particularly through more integrated administration, reduction of duplication, economies of scale, enhanced governance and oversight arrangements and a stronger role in promoting sustainable social, economic and community development.
Significant savings will, however, be achieved through the overall reform programme, including the reform of local government structures and implementation of the recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review (LGER), local authority workforce planning and agency rationalisation.
The County and City Managers' Association, in its input to the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group (July 2013), identified total savings of €839m since 2008, the beginning of the economic crisis. In the period since the preparation of the LGER Report (2010) to end 2012, the savings achieved and projected are reported at €561m. This includes €229m (already more than half the €346m identified as potential direct efficiency savings in the LGER Report) attributed to efficiency measures (as opposed to reduction in activity) in the years 2010 to the end of 2012. The majority of the efficiency savings identified relate to staffing reductions and procurement.
Further savings are expected to be realised through other staffing and organisational rationalisation measures, including changes on foot of workforce planning and agency rationalisation, and a shared services approach across a number of programmes, particularly in relation to treasury management, transactional HR, shared payroll systems, procurement and ICT back office functions.
It is not possible to disaggregate the savings in respect of specific elements of the reform process or to provide details in that regard on a county-by-county basis.
461. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if current legislation permits a business premises to continue to operate, pending obtaining a fire safety certificate or in the case of an ongoing appeal to An Bord Pleanála in respect of a refusal to grant such a certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50187/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legal position in relation to Fire Safety Certificates is set out in the Building Control Act 1990, as amended by Part 2 of the Building Control Act 2007. A Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) is generally required before construction work is commenced in the case of a new apartment block, a new building other than a dwelling or an existing building undergoing an extension, a material alteration or a material change of use. The FSC is issued by the Building Control Authority and certifies that the building, if constructed in accordance with the plans and documentation submitted, will comply with the requirements of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations.
Section 5 of the Act of 1990 as amended also provides for a prohibition on the opening, occupation or use of a building which has not been granted, among other things, an FSC where such a certificate is required. In this regard, article 43 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 1997 to 2009 declares that the opening, operation or occupation of a new or existing building prior to the grant of an FSC, where required, or prior to the determination by An Bord Pleanála of an appeal on the matter, is an offence to which section 17(2) of the Act of 1990 refers, meaning that the offence, if successfully prosecuted in court, may result, on summary conviction, in a fine not exceeding €800 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, on conviction on indictment, in a fine not exceeding €10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
462. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any planning permission applications which were flagged by fire officers as not suitable that were granted by Kildare County Council; and if so, the reason planning permission was granted. [50197/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision as to whether to grant planning permission in any particular case is a matter for the relevant planning authority, in the first instance, and for An Bord Pleanála in the event of an appeal. I have no function in relation to the matter. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including current guidelines issued by my Department under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. My Department has not been made aware of any planning applications which were flagged by fire officers as not suitable and which were subsequently granted by Kildare County Council.
463. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons behind allowing local authorities to charge for the disposal of fats, oils and greases; if he will acknowledge that the charge for disposal of brown water for commercial properties should cover the disposal of all waste waters from commercial properties; if he has limited the amount that local authorities can charge for disposal of fats, oils and greases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50236/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFats, oils and greases (FOG) discharged from commercial properties combine with other constituents in wastewater and congeal and accumulate in pipelines, service pipes and sewers, resulting in loss of capacity and blockages. Accumulations of FOG in wastewater treatment plants can give rise to pipe, equipment and plant blockages and impede treatment processes such as settlement and clarification, leading to increased maintenance and operational costs. Blockages in combined sewers which collect sewage discharges (including trade effluent containing FOG) and storm water can result in flooding and environmental pollution.
Under the Water Pollution Acts 1977 and 1990, businesses discharging to the public sewer require a valid trade effluent licence. Local authorities grant trade effluent licences and are empowered to insert relevant conditions in such a licence. This includes payment by the licence holders of fees determined by the local authority in relation to the costs of monitoring, treating and disposing of the trade effluents. This is in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive which requires full cost recovery from non-domestic users of water and wastewater services in accordance with the polluter pays principle. The additional costs to the local authorities of dealing with FOG discharges are therefore levied on those responsible for those discharges.
464. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on an issue in relation to the non-principal private residence of a person (details supplied). [50270/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on non-principal private residences. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge.
Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect Non-Principal Private Residence Charges, and late payment fees due to it and all Charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. I have issued guidelines to local authorities in relation to the operation of the "care and management" provisions of the legislation, including in instances in which genuine hardship in having to discharge a liability in a single payment can be demonstrated. In such cases, local authorities may enter into payment arrangements for the discharge of outstanding liabilities in instalments over a specified period.
This year will be the final year of the operation of the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. Since its introduction in 2009, the Charge has been an important source of revenue for local authorities and has funded the provision of vital local services.
465. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will extend the time for the new motor tax regime to accommodate the huge volume of persons seeking to use the service to have their motor tax regulated. [50278/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013, replacing the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure under which vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax status up to date by making both a retrospective and prospective off-road declaration. The Act does not allow discretion to extend the deadline beyond the 3 month transition period provided. I am aware that many people made significant efforts to act within the transition period, and that documentation received before the end of this period continues to be processed by local authorities. I have no plans to extend the deadline.
466. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has issued any correspondence to local authorities to encourage them not to increase their water charges or commercial rates for 2014; if he will provide details of the amount charged by each local authority in tabular form by standard unit for water in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50287/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the pressures on businesses at the present time. In recent years local authorities have been asked by my Department to exercise restraint or, where possible, to reduce commercial rates and local charges. Local authorities have responded well to such requests and in 2013, 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it the same as in 2012. I intend shortly to ask local authorities to again exercise restraint or, where possible, reduce commercial rates and local charges for 2014.
The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013, which I expect to publish shortly, will provide for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 local authorities to Irish Water. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of an independent economic regulator for water services within the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). It is intended to provide in the Bill that non-domestic water charges and tariffs that are in place in each water services authority for 2013 will be carried over to 2014 pending the approval of new tariffs by the CER. The table below shows the standard unit for water in and wastewater charged by each local authority in 2013.
|
Local Authority |
Water In |
Waste Water |
|
Carlow |
1.00 |
1.30 |
|
Cavan |
1.10 |
1.41 |
|
Clare |
1.65 |
1.24 |
|
Cork City |
0.98 |
1.17 |
|
Cork |
0.94 |
1.19 |
|
Donegal |
1.50 |
1.01 |
|
Dublin City |
1.16 |
0.83 |
|
Dun Laogh/Rath. |
1.04 |
1.24 |
|
Fingal |
1.02 |
1.19 |
|
South Dublin |
1.45 |
0.48 |
|
Galway City |
1.10 |
1.00 |
|
Galway |
1.19 |
1.26 |
|
Kerry |
1.10 |
0.83 |
|
Kildare |
0.80 |
0.79 |
|
Kilkenny |
0.96 |
1.93 |
|
Laois |
0.96 |
1.45 |
|
Leitrim |
1.10 |
1.18 |
|
Limerick City |
1.25 |
1.45 |
|
Limerick |
1.25 |
1.45 |
|
Longford |
1.25 |
1.15 |
|
Louth |
1.00 |
1.10 |
|
Mayo |
0.97 |
1.43 |
|
Meath |
1.42 |
1.23 |
|
Monaghan |
1.01 |
1.10 |
|
Offaly |
1.16 |
1.24 |
|
Roscommon |
1.22 |
1.50 |
|
Sligo |
1.26 |
1.23 |
|
North Tipp. |
1.20 |
1.20 |
|
South Tipp. |
1.10 |
1.20 |
|
Waterford City |
1.15 |
1.20 |
|
Waterford |
1.06 |
1.60 |
|
Westmeath |
1.00 |
1.07 |
|
Wexford |
1.21 |
1.45 |
|
Wicklow |
1.41 |
1.63 |
467. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding establishing the independent planning regulator's office; if he will indicate who the inspector will be; the remit of this role; the way members of the public may contact and meet with the inspector in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50333/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the recommendation contained in the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal, the Government approved proposals for the preparation of a new Planning and Development Bill at its meeting on 7 May 2013 to establish a new Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).
The primary function of the OPR, which will be established with an independent corporate identity, will be to carry out independent appraisal of regional and local level statutory plans prepared and adopted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, namely, development plans, local area plans, regional planning guidelines etc. The OPR will also be mandated to carry out the research, training and education roles identified by the Mahon Tribunal. The Planning Regulator will advise the Minister on the content of the plans, and where appropriate provide advice that all or part of a plan should be amended or rejected (through a Ministerial Direction), and the advice of the OPR will be published. The OPR will also have investigative powers to examine, inter alia, possible systemic failings in the planning system, again taking account of the recommendation of the Mahon Tribunal in this regard.
On foot of the Government approved proposals, my Department is preparing a General Scheme of a new Planning and Development Bill giving consideration to the detailed issues to be addressed including those raised in the question. It is envisaged that the General Scheme of the Bill will be published before the end of March, 2014.
468. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person who has fully paid motor tax on the vehicle that they currently drive and having purchased a new vehicle which will not be on the road until December must pay motor tax on this vehicle from the time of purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50382/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides that, where a new or second-hand vehicle has been purchased and is not going to be in immediate use, the owner may, within ten days of the date of registration of a new vehicle or purchase of a second-hand vehicle, furnish a Declaration of Non-Use of a Motor Vehicle. A Declaration so made provides that motor tax is not payable on the vehicle for the period in question, so long as it is not used in a public place.
