Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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415. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the recommended or legal limit for the length of time allowed for which a vehicle can be licensed by motor dealers without the motor dealer's name appearing in registration book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16317/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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An administrative arrangement has been in place since 1987 to facilitate motor dealers by enabling them to temporarily tax a vehicle in their ownership pending resale without their particulars being entered on the registration document as an additional owner. Since the introduction of a trade licence system for distributors/dealers/garages in 1992, which allows holders of a trade plate to use a vehicle on the road without being taxed, this arrangement is now primarily of benefit to non-trade plate holders as it provides a mechanism for them to bring a vehicle on the road for demonstration purposes, etc. without being added as an owner. The arrangement was intended to be used as a temporary measure, pending resale of a vehicle. It was not the intention that the arrangement would be used to tax the same vehicle repeatedly or for a long period of time. A Circular that issued to motor tax offices in 1989 clarifies that it was not envisaged that a dealer would tax a vehicle for more than three months under the arrangement.