Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of hauliers currently availing of the rebate scheme for auto diesel; the total amount of the rebate in 2013 and 2014; his plans to streamline the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5386/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I introduced the diesel rebate scheme to provide for a repayment by the Revenue Commissioners to qualifying road haulage and bus operators of a part of the mineral oil tax paid on their purchases of auto-diesel for use in qualifying vehicles during the course of business.

The Revenue Commissioners inform me that there are 2,057 qualifying road transport operators currently availing of the scheme. These operators include road haulage operators and bus/coach operators. The total amount repaid in 2013 and 2014 was €0.7m and €21.1m respectively.

In order to facilitate broad access to the scheme and to enable effective validation of claims, the scheme is fully automated through the Revenue Online Service (ROS) and certain conditions apply to fuel purchases.  These controls are necessary as repayment systems are vulnerable to abuse and it is essential that they are tightly controlled whilst not impacting negatively on legitimate business.

Purchases in bulk must be made from a licensed mineral oil trader, and delivered, in a quantity exceeding 2,000 litres, to a premises or place that is under the control of that qualifying road transport operator.  Purchases by means of a fuel card, approved by Revenue for that purpose, also qualify for repayment and there is no minimum requirement on purchases made in this way.  A fuel card will be approved where Revenue is satisfied that the fuel card provider will supply it with the information required about purchases of auto-diesel by means of that card.  Fuel cards are widely available and are usable across the road network and there are a number of fuel card providers who can supply suitable fuel cards to road transport operators and fuel retailers. 

The conditions governing the scheme and the level of automation enable Revenue to validate claims and ensure prompt processing of repayments. These anti-fraud safeguards are designed to protect the scheme from abuse and restrict its application to legitimate operators. I am satisfied that the current arrangements represent an appropriate balance between the efficient processing of claims and controlling the risk of fraud effectively and I have no plans to change them.