Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the implied loss to the Exchequer for cars not being taxed due to their off the road status; if he intends to apply a 0% rate to off the road cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19932/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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It is estimated that the annual loss arising from vehicle owners declaring their vehicles off the road is in the region of €84m.

Currently, owners declare vehicles off the road for the purposes of motor tax after the fact, which is effectively unverifiable and open to abuse. I intend to provide that drivers will be able to declare their intention to keep their vehicle off-the-road in advance, so that if a vehicle is not to be used on a public road for a number of months, the owner will be able to inform the relevant authorities before taking the car off the road rather than afterwards, and so avoid a liability for motor tax. The General Scheme of a Bill to tighten the procedures is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department and I expect to bring it to Cabinet next month.