Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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790. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding small businesses and road tax for heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23623/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to consider issues relating to the Irish haulage industry, which includes representation from my Department. The haulage industry is seeking a reduction in motor tax for the sector, a change in the basis of taxation from unladen to gross design vehicle weight and the introduction of road user charging. In relation to the latter two proposals, these are currently being considered and implementation, if recommended, would be for the medium to long-term. In relation to the first proposal, any changes to rates of motor tax are for consideration in the context of the budget. Motor tax is payable on a 3, 6 or twelve month basis. In respect of periods of non-use of a vehicle, the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 provides that, where a vehicle is not going to be used in a public place, the vehicle may be declared off the road during the last month of an extant tax disc or previously made declaration of non-use, for a period of between 3 and 12 months. The Act also provides that an owner can return the vehicle to the road early if circumstances, such as a pick-up in business, require it, by applying for a vehicle licence for the vehicle. The vehicle licence will commence from the month in which the application to tax the vehicle is made and the end date of the Declaration of Non- Use will be changed to the end of the month before the vehicle licence commences.

The Diesel Rebate Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.