Motor tax should be ‘rural-proofed’

THE revised measures for calculating vehicle registration and motor tax, announced by Environment Minister John Gormley, must not disadvantage farmers or rural dwellers, Macra na Feirme president Catherine Buckley has warned.

Ms Buckley said the system of taxing larger vehicles for leisure and non-commercial purposes at a higher rate had merits from an environmental perspective, as these emit more CO2, but in rural areas the measure could hit drivers who have no transport alternative.

“Farmers, because of the nature of their business, generally require larger vehicles in order to pull trailers, travel over rougher terrain and access areas that might not be suitable for smaller cars,” she said.