Motor tax evasion enforcement
The Minister said the Gardaí were using departmental data to target roadside checks and identify non-payment. He cited an estimated 10–14% evasion rate, down from 15–20%, and expected the new measures to reduce it further.
asked the Minister for Justice the special measures which are to be taken to detect those who are evading payment of motor taxation; and if additional gardaí will be made available for the crackdown announced by the Minister for the Environment.
Comment on this
I assure the Deputy is referring to the statement by the Minister for the Environment on 26 January that the Garda Síochána would be asked to intensify roadside checks of tax discs in 1989 and to pinpoint "black spot" areas using computerised data furnished by his Department relating to non-payment of tax.
This procedure is already being put into effect. Details of vehicles in respect of which road tax has not been renewed within a reasonable time have been supplied to the Garda authorities by the Department of the Environment and have been forwarded for the attention of Garda divisional officers throughout the country.
All uniformed gardaí are involved in the enforcement of the law in relation to road tax and they will continue to give this matter as much attention as possible having regard to the many other demands on their services. Traffic wardens also have a role in such enforcement. The information supplied by the Department of the Environment will assist the Garda authorities to make more effective use of resources as it will facilitate targetting of road tax evaders.
Comment on this
In the course of his statement in January the Minister for the Environment said that 10 per cent of owners of motor cars evade payment of motor taxation and I should like to know if the Minister agrees with that figure. To what level will that figure be reduced?
Comment on this
I understand that in 1987, 77,164 fine on the spot notices for non-display of tax were issued by gardaí and traffic wardens appointed by the Garda Commissioner. In that year court proceedings were taken in respect of 143,330 offences in relation to motor tax. Approximately £17 million per annum, or between 10 per cent and 14 per cent, is regarded as evasion. The extent of evasion has been substantially reduced. At one time the evasion rate was between 15 per cent and 20 per cent and it is expected that the new measures will substantially reduce the evasion rate level from between 10 per cent and 14 per cent which is costing £17 million.