Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to the issuing of personalised vehicle registration plates in view of the fact that this would cut down on unnecessary administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1275/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The registration plate in place under the current system allows members of the public and car buyers to ascertain, at a glance, both the year and county of registration of a vehicle. It is seen as a simple and effective registration plate system which is indeed the envy of many European registration authorities, including the UK. A move to a more complicated plating system, using variations of letters and numbers, could create confusion without providing any real benefits. A move to introduce a parallel system for personalised plates would also require inter-agency agreement, involving An Garda Síochána, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners; and would necessitate legislative and administrative changes.

The small size of the Irish car market, the potential for confusion and increased tax evasion, as well as the costs of administering such a scheme, raise considerable doubts as to whether any real overall benefit would accrue to the State if a personalised vehicle registration system was introduced. These difficulties are compounded by potential additional problems in the management of the national fleet and the identification of vehicles in connection with road traffic accidents and offences.