Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department that are not required to hold motor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16029/14]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department that do not hold an insurance policy; the manner in which insurance claims arising in respect of vehicles in the possession of his Department or its agencies are handled; the amount of insurance claims paid on behalf of his Department in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16045/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.

The Department has three vehicles based at headquarters and 78 vehicles across our mission network abroad.

The three official vehicles at headquarters are covered by State insurance under Section 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act and are exempt from Third Party Insurance.

Any insurance claim arising in respect of these vehicles is referred to the State Claims Agency for processing.

No insurance claims have been paid in the five years to date.

As the vehicles in question are State owned they are exempt from paying Motor Tax. They must, however, display Motor Tax discs; these are issued gratis by the Motor Tax Office.

The official vehicles at missions abroad are required to be registered and insured as appropriate in the countries where they are located; they are not required to be registered for Irish Motor Tax.