Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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299. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person must pay additional costs when paying taxes by instalments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11037/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Motor tax can be paid annually, half-yearly or quarterly. The half-yearly and quarterly payment options incorporate a surcharge element which covers the administrative and printing costs involved in processing the higher volume of applications. In addition, reminders are issued on each renewal. The estimated annual income from the increased charges for half-yearly and quarterly vehicle licences is in the region of €50m. A loss in income from this source would have a negative impact on the Local Government Fund and consequently on grant allocations to local authorities from the Fund, and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system, or through the taxation system generally.