Delivery of Service

Issue of Certificate of Road Worthiness:

Certain categories of Motor Vehicle such as Large Public Service & Goods Vehicles must undergo a test for road worthiness at an authorised test centre. These tests must be carried out annually and a fee is payable. On production of a Pass Certificate from the test centre, Longford County Council will issue a Certificate of Road Worthiness at the appropriate charge. The current fee is €13 for a heavy pass statement and €6 for a light pass statement.

Supply of Licensing particulars:

The Local Authority supplies, free of charge, full particulars of any licensed vehicle to any other licensing authority, the Garda Siochana, the Revenue Commissioners, any Department of State or any Local Authority exercising functions pursuant to the Local Authorities ( Traffic Wardens ) Act, 1975. It will, also, supply to any person who has reasonable cause for requiring such information, such particulars of any vehicle licensed with the Local Authority, at a fee as set down from time to time. The Central Registration Unit for Motor Taxation is based at Shannon where details of vehicle registration for the entire country are computerised. Each Local Authority has on-line connection to this database of information.

Certification of Traffic Offences (Garda Siochana /Parking):

Details regarding the registered owner plus current tax details are submitted on Form C (T) 53 in pursuance of Article 4 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Order 1958 and Section 61(2) of the Finance Act, 1993, as substituted by Section 87 of the Finance Act, 1994. Each form is certified by the Authorised Officer.

Trade Plates:

Trade plates are issued to persons who are Bona Fide dealers in mechanically propelled vehicles trade. The legal framework for the issue of same is:

Section 21 of the Finance Act, 1992
Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Amendment No.2) Regulations, 1992 -Articles4- 10
Vehicles Registration and Taxation~o.2) Regulations, 1992 - Article 9.

Service is delivered to the public in three ways i.e. personal, post and telephone. Over 37,700 transactions are processed in this way each year.

New Local Authority Funding:

The Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1997 which came into effect on 1st July 1997 gives effect to new Local Authority Funding arrangements as announced in "Better Local Government - A Programme for Change". The Act assigns to Local Authorities the proceeds of:

Motor Taxation
Driver Licence Fees
Miscellaneous Fees and Duties (collectively referred to as Motor Tax Income).

On 12 January 1998, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government launched "A New Deal for Local Government" where he announced a new system of funding for Local Authorities involving the establishment of an independent Local Government Fund with effect from 1st January 1999. This fund will be financed from two sources:

Central Government
The proceeds of Motor Taxation.

Motoring