Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

59. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a case (details supplied) regarding a vintage car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department through the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) maintains a record of the ‘registered owners’ of motor vehicles in this State. Section 60 of the Finance Act 1993 provides the legal framework for the records on the national file, including the type and information on records. Responsibility under this section for the records is shared between this Department and each licensing authority (motor tax office).

Where a vehicle has been recorded as scrapped on the NVDF, the relevant vehicle record on the system is generally ‘locked down’ so that no further transactions such as changes of vehicle ownership or renewal of motor tax can be recorded. The status of a scrapped notice on the NVDF can be only reverted to ‘active’ by a Motor Tax Office on receipt of a comprehensive vehicle examination report by a qualified vehicle engineer/assessor. These requirements are put in place to support road safety; in effect to ensure vehicles are roadworthy.

The records on the NVDF show that the vehicle registration in question was recorded as scrapped on the system by Offaly Motor Tax Office on 19 May 19 2005. As per the procedure outlined above, the vehicle record was ‘locked down’ on that date. Where your constituent subsequently queried the matter, either with my Department or the motor tax office in question, they would have been advised of the procedure in how to have the scrapped status removed.

Notwithstanding the above, my officials have engaged further with Offaly Motor Tax Office on the matter, and you may wish to have your constituent contact Offaly Motor Tax Office on the matter to discuss some alternative options. The records also note that the NCT on the vehicle expired on August 18 2004. A valid NCT certificate is required for the vehicle to be used on the public road.