Motor tax blitz failure 'cost €40m'

The Government lost around €40m in revenue last year because it did not go ahead with a crackdown on drivers who dodge motor tax, it was claimed today.

The information was revealed in documents released to Fine Gael under the Freedom of Information Act.

The files show government estimates that 10% of motor tax is not collected every year, representing between €30m and €40m of uncollected revenue.

Fine Gael said today that this uncollected money would easily pay for the upgrading and restoration of roads across the country.

Environment spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said: “The large number of motorists getting away with not paying for road tax is a clear reflection of the Government’s lack of commitment to the Garda Traffic Corps, which has still not reached full strength.

“The documents, which date from October 2005, reveal that the Government was planning an enforcement blitz at that time to collect the missing revenue. This never happened.

“Meanwhile, the 10% of motorists who skip motor tax are driving up the cost for everyone else.”

Mr O’Dowd pointed out that the revenue could go towards the upgrading of regional roads which he claimed were sub-standard, filled with potholes and falling apart.

Fine Gael has published a Six Step Plan for Safer Roads to upgrade sub-standard rural roads and signs across the country, by requiring every local authority to conduct an annual audit of road conditions.

Roads would be graded according to their condition, with the worst roads targeted as a priority.

“The cost of this plan amounts to €10m and would be paid for four times over by the missing tax money,” added the Drogheda TD.