asked the Minister for Finance the estimated total tax revenue lost to the State by the abolition of taxation on some private motor vehicles.

The cost to the Exchequer in the current year is estimated to be of the order of £27.5 million.

Does that sum relate to this current year?

Yes.

Would the Minister mind repeating the figure?

The figure is £27.5 million.

Does that figure take into account the number of vehicles actually registered, which shows a heavy increase over last year, thanks to our import boom?

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is an estimate because it covers the whole year. I believe that the estimate does take account of increased registration.

Is it fair to say to the Minister that the estimate is £7 million or £8 million higher than the estimate in the budget, which was £20 million, and that the increase is attributable to new licences.

I have to confess that I do not recall the exact estimate in the budget.