Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
153. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown by county of the 134 filling stations closed down by the Revenue Commissioners in the past four years as part of the investigation into fuel laundering; if these closures are permanent or temporary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17601/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that filling stations are obliged to hold an auto fuel trader's licence and/or a marked fuel trader's licence in order to trade in fuel. Traders must apply for a new licence annually and Revenue may refuse to issue a licence or may revoke an existing licence. Revenue began taking action from mid- 2011 against service stations that were unlicensed and also against stations that had failed to adhere to the conditions of their licences. Unlicensed service stations closed down as a result of the seizure of fuel by Revenue or the threat of such seizure. In addition, service stations that had their licences revoked for breaches of licensing conditions were similarly closed as a result of the seizure of fuel or the threat of seizure.
The breakdown, by county, of the number of filling stations closed down in the years 2012 to 2014 is as set out in the following table.
|
Revenue Region |
County |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
Dublin |
8 |
3 |
1 |
|
Border Midlands West |
Cavan |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
- |
Donegal |
5 |
2 |
0 |
|
- |
Galway |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
- |
Longford |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
- |
Louth |
13 |
3 |
3 |
|
- |
Mayo |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
- |
Monaghan |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
- |
Roscommon |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
- |
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
- |
Westmeath |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
East South East |
Kildare |
3 |
4 |
1 |
|
- |
Kilkenny |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
Laois |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
- |
Meath |
2 |
9 |
0 |
|
- |
Tipperary |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
- |
Waterford |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
- |
Wexford |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
South West |
Cork |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
- |
Limerick |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
- |
57 |
30 |
15 |
The county breakdown of the 32 closures in 2011 is not readily available.
Filling stations which were closed may have opened again subsequently, in circumstances such as the premises being brought into conformity with licensing requirements, or where the premises changed hands and a new owner applied for a licence or licences.
The Revenue Commissioners maintain registers of auto fuel and marked fuel traders' licences on the Revenue website, which are updated monthly. A licence is removed from the register where it is no longer in effect, where it has been revoked, or where it has expired and has not been replaced by a new licence. The lists of current valid licences can be accessed through the following links:
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/excise/mineral-oil-traders/licensed-auto-fuel-traders.xls
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/excise/mineral-oil-traders/licensed-marked-fuel-traders.xls
I made provision for the publication of details of revoked licences in the Finance Act 2013 and have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they will shortly publish a list of persons whose licences have been revoked since enactment of the provision and details of the premises concerned.
