The State has admitted it currently has no idea how many people have not paid their motor tax but believes that the level of noncompliance is low. 

Yesterday, civil servants from the Department of Transport appeared before the Public Accounts Committee. 

When questioned about drivers who do not pay their motor tax, the Department’s Assistant Secretary told TDs they believe the level of evasion is “not hugely significant”. 

However, he added that it is not a phenomenon that the Department is able to monitor.  

Gardaí carrying out traffic checks. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/ RollingNews.ie.

“It’s not something that we are able to do directly with the data that’s available to us at the moment,” he admitted. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, motoring expert Ger Herbert described the revelation as “extraordinary”.  

 “So, apparently, there’s a range of different databases that are available that collect information from different agencies,” she explained. 

“As a result, there’s no central database.” 

ITraffic on Wexford Street. Picture by: Alamy.com.

In Britain, paper motor discs were abolished 11 years ago and the Irish Government has said it intends to do likewise. 

At that point, Ms Herbert added, noncompliance “becomes even more problematic”. 

“We’d be relying entirely on digital tracking and database accuracy to enforce motor tax collection,” she said. 

“They really need to put these things in place beforehand. 

“Because it doesn’t bode well and inspire much confidence in their digital systems.” 

Last year, motor tax raised €928 million in revenue for the State.

Main image: Motoring disks on an Irish car. Picture by: Alamy.com.