Mr. Seamus Coffey:

Estimates regarding corporation tax are outside the remit of the council. In the context of VAT, we have noticed is the system is going through some changes at present. There were changes at EU level on where VAT should be paid and whether it should be the location where the sale is made or where the customer is. There have been moves to locate more VAT payments where the customer is, and Revenue has set up, as have most countries, a mini one-stop shop to try to balance payments for sales made in one country to customers in another. Perhaps there is a rebalancing to happen as these changes work through. It is not something we have considered in any great detail. The PRSI and PAYE figures are showing the growth in the economy, particularly the PRSI figures, which are growing at 7% or 8% because they have not been subject to policy measures in recent years. In general, looking at the overall receipts we see strength in corporation tax. We do see volatility in VAT. With the bimonthly returns, there are some months when the figures up and others when they are down. Part of this can be due to the way the system is changing. The strength in the economy is being reflected in labour-related taxes and receipts.