by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent
MOTORISTS in Inishowen who import vehicles from
Northern Ireland should have the option of paying
their Vehicle Registration Tax in Bridgend, local
Senator Cecilia Keaveney insisted yesterday.
Senator Keaveney’s call came just days after a major
joint operation between Customs Officers and Gardai
at Burt which saw several vehicles seized.
Customs officials have already warned that their
clampdown will continue in the weeks ahead and told
drivers resident in Donegal who import their
vehicles from the North or Britain that they must
pay VRT within 24 hours – or risk having their cars
impounded.
However Senator Keaveney who said she has already
raised the issue with Minister Brian Lenihan, has
insisted that the decision to move the facility to
pay VRT from an office in Lifford to Donegal Town,
has seriously affected Inishowen drivers.
“I have spoken to Minister Brian Lenihan on this
issue and showed him the realities for people in
North East Donegal in terms of the practical
difficulties of getting to Donegal Town.”
The Moville based Senator said that technology is
such at the moment that this service should be
offered anywhere that there is a Revenue office and
she insisted that offices at Bridgend and
Letterkenny should be enabled to offer VRT services.
“Representations are being made to me now by people
who are being impacted by having to take a day off
work to travel between 100 and 180 miles in the
return journey to Donegal Town. There is a
realisation that cars being taken across the border
do have to be registered but I have had to approach
again this week and urge the Department of Finance
to request urgent action on the provision of more
local services.”
Senator Keaveney said that she had also checked with
regard to whether the registration can be done
online but said the service is available only for
new cars. “There have been rumours spread locally
that due to inaccurate information being given
online, in a number of cases, that this service has
been withdrawn. After speaking to custom officers on
the matter they have informed me that this is not
the case and as far as they are aware there have
been no difficulties in using the online system.”
Senator Keaveney added that customs officers also
pointed out that there is a postal service available
for those cars over 2 years old and whose value does
not exceed €25,000 but to date this service has not
been utilised much.
“I would encourage people to look at it as another
option and I will continue to push for the VRT
services to be made available in Bridgend and
Letterkenny,” she concluded |
