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Budget 2022 “negative” – say car dealers

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By Sean Moriarty

One of the key issues announced in Tuesday’s budget is the increase of the Vehicle Registration Tax, a fee unique to Ireland across the entire EU.

The cost of new cars will increase by between one and four percent from January 1.

This increase comes on the back of a second-hand car market that has been decimated as a result of Brexit and COVID-19 impacts.

David Randles, of Randles Bros Nissan on the Muckross Road, is the chair of the Kerry branch of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

He believes that the price increase will hurt new car sales, which will in turn effect the second hand car market and, by default, force a reduction in revenue for Government.

“It was a negative budget for the motor industry,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I cannot see the reasoning for upping the price of new cars. The new car market is on the floor, we can’t get second hands due to Brexit. We need to sell new cars to get the trade-ins, so less cars [being sold] means less revenue. We are facing a tough first six months of 2022.”

The €5,000 relief for electric vehicles is being extended to the end of 2023.

“We are not ready for that down here in country areas. It is getting better [charging infrastructure] but in country areas we still need diesel,” added Mr Randles, whose family garage business is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. “The motor industry is at a stage of reconfiguration. We will see a lot of changes in the way we do things over the next 10 years in terms of workshops and spare parts. Electric cars are a way better on brakes and tyres."

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Massive Park Road housing development given green light

A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road. The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near […]

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A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road.

The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near An Post’s sorting office, will include a variety of properties from five-bed houses to single apartments, along with a crèche and over 500 car spaces and over 300 bike spaces.

The development has been welcomed by local councillor Martin Grady.

“Killarney has a massive housing shortage so this is very positive. It will retain young families in the area, stimulating economic growth,” he said. “After 17 years of different planning applications it’s finally coming to fruition.”

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Ballydribeen residents living in fear due to anti-social behaviour

Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate. Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits […]

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Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate.

Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits in the last week.

Local councillor Martin Grady told the Killarney Advertiser that residents are “living in fear” as a result of very serious incidents in the last week alone.

One house in the estate was badly damaged when fire crackers were placed inside a letter box.

Another house had its windows smashed in over the weekend.

“It’s a major problem,” added Grady after meeting residents there earlier this week.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Tuesday night.

A passing motorists had rocks thrown at his car while driving along the bypass whch is adjacent to the estate.
Taking to social media, local primary-school teacher Pádraig O’Sullivan posted:

“Travelling home tonight, at 11.05pm on the Killarney side of the bypass our car was hit by a rock – not a pebble – from the Ballydribben side , which hit the passenger door.

“It was centimetres away from hitting the window where my father, who is visually impaired, was sitting.

“This could have caused catastrophic permanent injury to him.

“The Killarney Garda were on the scene within three minutes.

“They can’t be patrolling the bypass all night.

“It comes down to parenting. You should know where your children are at this hour and be able to teach them what’s funny and what ruin a person’s life or cause a fatal crash.“

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