Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only 22 centres in the country, within the National Car Test centre framework, allowed to re-register vehicles and a large area of the country is not serviced by any local centres; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that as of 1 September 2010 there is a requirement for all vehicles to be presented at these centres for registration purposes thereby changing changes the situation in which tractor owners who wished to re-register their tractors were only required to present their documents at the centre; his views on the fact that in view of the scarcity of these designated centres in rural areas, persons will be forced to bring their tractors long distances for re-registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the revised registration procedures (operated by the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) since 1 September 2010) a total of 22 NCT Centres were initially configured for registration purposes to replace the 22 Revenue Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs) that previously performed the registration function. These NCT Centres are, for the most part, close to the locations where the VROs were sited and are set up in facilities custom built for the examination of vehicles, with ample parking for the convenience of customers, especially those with larger vehicles such as tractors. In general, tractors pose an increased risk to other road users because, among other things, a 16-year old may be licensed to carry a heavy load on, for example, a 10-year old tractor that has never been examined by a State agency, whereas if the same load were carried in a heavy goods vehicle, that vehicle could be legally driven only by an individual with a heavy goods licence, in a vehicle equipped with a tachograph and other safety features, that would be subject to an annual roadworthiness test. Accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that any measure relating to the pre-registration checking of tractors that reduces the overall risk to other road users is a worthwhile initiative.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that it is essential for road traffic management and road safety that all vehicles are registered and have a registration number so that the owner can be identified. In this context, the Revenue Commissioners have confirmed that tractors must, in the normal course of events, be presented at an NCT Centre for a pre-registration inspection (as is the requirement for all vehicle types). For the majority of tractors being imported into the country, this should not pose serious difficulty as a pre-registration examination can be booked in advance and the vehicle transported to the relevant centre, at the appointed time, as it is being transported or driven into the State, thus eliminating extra unnecessary journeys on the public road.

However, it appears that there are a number of tractors already in the State that, for whatever reason, were not registered by their owners in accordance with the legislation in place before 1 September 2010. It is recognised that the new legislation may place a particular burden on the owners of those vehicles to fulfil their registration obligations. Additionally, there may be a number of people who, because they were not aware of the impending change, despite the extensive advertising campaign run by the Revenue Commissioners, may not be in a position to register their tractor immediately after import.

For these reasons, on 15 September last, the Revenue Commissioners, as an interim measure until the end of 2010, waived the requirement for a tractor to be presented for examination. However, a pre-registration appointment must still be booked and the relevant documentation relating to the tractor and the registered owner must be presented for examination at an NCT Centre. This waiver will cease in 2011 and from then on tractors, like all other mechanically propelled vehicles, will be obliged to undergo a pre-registration inspection before they are registered for use in the State.

The requirement to have all used vehicles presented for pre-registration examination has presented some new challenges for both Revenue and the competent person appointed to carry out these functions, namely, the NCTS. In consultation with other stakeholders, e.g. the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association Ltd. (FTMTA), Revenue and the NCTS are facing these challenges and have implemented some revised procedures to speed up the registration process. For example, the NCTS have recently put procedures in place to provide additional capacity in their centres, including extending the opening times in some centres and the configuration of two additional centres for registration purposes in order to address current delays. Revenue are also examining the possibility of providing electronic facilities for the registration of used vehicles that have been subjected to a pre-registration examination.

Finally, Revenue is confident that with the implementation of these and other similar initiatives, an efficient user-friendly service will be available to all persons requiring vehicle registration, notwithstanding the fact that the vehicle will, in all cases as provided for in legislation, have to be presented for examination prior to registration.