This article is from page 10 of the 2013-07-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
HUNDREDS of Clare cars are set to be forced off the roads indefinitely later this year as a change to the procedure for taxing cars could make driving a car too expensive.
That is according to Clare based community group Dealing With Debt – who believe that the proposed changed will force poorer motorist off the road indefinitely.
Under the new scheme motorists will have to declare their vehicle off the road in advance in order to avoid being penalised and having to back tax their vehicles, even if the vehicle is not being driven.
“According to the Government the new motor tax bill was introduced to deal with non-compliant motor tax payers. [Minister for State] Fergus O’ Dowd’s comments on this, in which he describes the motor tax evasion loophole, shows the lack of reality on this issue,” said DWD chairperson, Joe Corbett.
“The sad reality is that the majority of these people cannot afford the extremely high levels of motor tax especially on older vehicles. People that can afford newer Eco Friendly vehicles can avail of the relatively low taxation bands available, however less well-off people with older and larger vehicles are penalised for not being able to afford such vehicles.”
Mr Corbett says that this new system will create a situation where poorer motorists are forced to subsidise richer motorists.
“They are further penalised in the limited payment methods available – as taxing on a three month basis is more expensive than on a 12 month and no direct debit or similar methods of payment are available under the new motor tax legislation,” he said.
“The lack of public transport especially in rural areas makes a car a necessity therefore a more realistic and affordable motor tax scheme is required.
“The bill doesn’t seem to take into account everyday problems such as NCT failures, illness and such matters which are impossible to have prior knowledge of.”