Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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688. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has held with the Department of Finance to restructure commercial vehicle road tax in line with comparable costs in Northern Ireland; if his Department has conducted a review into this restructure and the possible positive impacts it would have on the haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26045/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​An Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by my Department, was established last year to consider the potential for introducing a 'pay-as-you-go' road tax system for HGVs.  The group has examining the technical, regulatory and economic dimensions of introducing a HGV road user charge in Ireland. The work of the group was expanded to include a full review of commercial motor tax, which has led to the group taking longer than anticipated to finalise its proposals. The group held a targeted stakeholder consultation in November 2014 which concluded in February 2015 and in March held meetings with stakeholders, including representatives of the hauliers and their customers.

The report of the group is currently being finalised for submission to me and to the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government.  I expect to receive the report shortly.