Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

41. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allowing persons additional time to tax their machinery and pay any necessary arrears under the new road tax regime, given that many persons will need to get a vehicle registration certificate issued for their machinery, which will take considerable time, and in view of concerns that farmers are suffering distress in getting their paperwork processed on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40805/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The primary purpose of the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 is to replace the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure under which vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from its commencement to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax status up to date. The relevant provisions of the Act commenced on 1 July 2013 and, accordingly, are fully in force since 1 October 2013; extensive public notice of the Act's coming into force was 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.