Monthly instalments for motor tax ruled out

The Government has ruled out allowing hard-pressed drivers pay their motor tax in monthly instalments, despite making an additional €55.3m this year from those forced to renew their discs on a three- or six-monthly basis.

Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy had been asked by a local authority to introduce an easy payment method, similar to the TV licence stamp system operated through post offices.

The call was made by Cork County Council after Independent Cllr June Murphy won unanimous support from colleagues and her chief executive, Tim Lucey, to halt the practice of charging some motorists more for acquiring motor tax through quarterly or half-yearly instalments.