Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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599. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reduce the level of motor tax paid for periods of less than one year, so there is not a financial disadvantage for motorists taxing their vehicle for periods of less than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8184/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960s. The differential takes account of the extra workload for staffing in motor tax offices and the National Vehicle and Driver File Unit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and the resultant administrative costs and printing costs that arise, including the issuing of renewal notices. Each quarterly renewal of motor tax follows the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Consequently, renewing on a quarterly basis generates four times the workload of an annual renewal for the equivalent period.