Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the estimated income which is intended to be derived from each of the new engine capacity bands as set out in Section 4 (a) of the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15375/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There are no new engine capacity bands set out in Section 4 (a) of the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013 and it is presumed the Question refers to the new CO 2 emissions bands set out in that section.

A review of carbon banding, which is the basis of taxation for post-2008 private vehicles, was carried out in 2012 for both motor tax and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), and a new structure was announced in Budget 2013. From 01 January 2013, CO 2 Band A has been broken into four separate bands and the B band has been split into two for both motor tax and VRT. For motor tax only, a new zero band has been introduced for electric vehicles with a lower annual tax of €120 applying.

The revised banding recognises that ever more fuel efficient cars are becoming available and allows for the differentiation of the environmental incentive in favour of the most environmentally friendly vehicles. It is expected there will be an increase in the coming years in the number of vehicles falling into the lower emitting A bands as vehicle technology continues to evolve – in Band A registrations for 2009, the first full year of the new CO 2 based system, comprise 14.8% of the total CO 2 fleet. For 2012, that figure is 54.4%.

The estimated additional income for 2013 , derived from each of the new CO 2 bands and based on numbers of vehicles taxed at 28 February 2013 , is set out below.