Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will exempt certain categories of people from the recent increase in registration tax on high powered vehicles when such vehicles are used by people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14363/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that there has been no recent increase in registration tax on high powered vehicles. As the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2007 I announced that it is planned to review the current VRT system to take account of environmental issues, in particular Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. A public consultation in this regard has commenced with a view to making such a move with effect from a target date of 1 January 2008. With respect to vehicles used by persons with certain disabilities, there continues to exist the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concession) Scheme which provides that persons who qualify under a specific medical criteria can purchase a car and qualify, subject to certain limits, for VRT and VAT refund on this purchase.