Parking space levy hits trouble

A LOOPHOLE is already threatening to drive the Government’s new parking space levy off the road after it emerged staff who pay their employers for the privilege of parking at their workplace will be exempt from the new tax.

That means even if an employee pays only a nominal sum such as a euro for their parking space, they could escape the €200 annual penalty which is intended to collect up to €10 million a year for the exchequer.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the full details of the scheme had yet to be worked out and it would be up to the Revenue Commissioners to make decisions on who was liable for the levy.