Anyone in the market for a personalised number-plate for their car may be disappointed.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan says he has no plans to allow for personalised plates, because Ireland is simply too small.

Mr Noonan says building a system to recognise personalised plates would be far too expensive given how few people would be expected to have one.

But he says anyone who wants to reserve a specific number on a '15-2' plate next month can do so if they are willing to pay €1,000 for the privilege.