Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding personalised number plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22831/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the Finance Act 1992 they have responsibility for the legislation governing vehicle identification marks (registration numbers) in the State and that the format is prescribed in Statutory Instrument No. 318 of 1992, Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations (as amended).

There is provision that the Commissioners may assign to a vehicle a registration number reserved by the owner on payment of a fee of €1,000, but this registration number must also comply with the format prescribed in S.I. No. 318 of 1992.  Apart from this facility to reserve a registration number, there is no scope within the current legislation to provide for a personalised number scheme. This issue has been raised a number of times over the years but the systems development required, including to registration plate recognition systems, would be likely to far outweigh the potential benefits to the Exchequer given the comparatively small national car population.