Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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391. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the timeline of the end of September for the declaration of motor tax of vehicles being off the road could be extended for one month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39373/13]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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413. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider extending the commencement date for the introduction of a new road tax regime for tractor and machine owners from 1 October 2013 to 1 January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39770/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 413 together.

The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides for a three month transition period from the commencement of the Act to allow motorists to bring their motor tax status up to date. The relevant provisions of the Act commenced on 1 July 2013 and, accordingly, will be fully in force from 1 October 2013; extensive public notice of the Act’s coming into force has been given over the period since 1 July. As precision is needed in taxation measures to provide certainty to those liable to pay the tax, the Act does not allow discretion to extend the deadline. I do not consider it possible to introduce amending primary legislation to extend the deadline at this late stage, and indeed, it would be difficult to make the necessary technical adjustments to the National Vehicle and Driver File within the short timescale involved.