Results 3,801-3,820 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I would like to state the Government's full commitment to the decentralisation programme. The Decentralisation Implementation Group, chaired by Mr. Finbarr Flood, was established to drive the process forward and to oversee its effective delivery. The Group, recognising that it would not be feasible for all organisations to move at the same time, proposed phasing arrangements and revised...

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: House price inflation has been accelerating since September 2005. According to the ESRI Permanent TSB house price index, the year on year growth rate increased from 6.2% year on year to September to 12.1% year on year to March 2006. The Financial Regulator has already drawn attention to the need for lenders to act prudently in extending credit, especially for house purchase, and for borrowers...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Government's approach to taxation and to the delivery of public services is set out in An Agreed Programme for Government and recent Budgets, Finance Bills, Estimates for Public Services and Public Capital Programmes. Our taxation policy is designed to maintain and strengthen the competitive position of the economy, foster economic and social development, and equity, while maintaining a...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8 per cent in April. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and recent rises in interest rates by the ECB. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Price Index (HICP), in Ireland was 2.7% in April. The euro area average HICP in the same period was 2.4%. For most of the last two years, HICP inflation in Ireland has been broadly in line with the euro area average. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department monitors the main economic variables which drive inflation such as oil prices, exchange rates, interest rates and the level of demand in the economy. The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI)....

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing...

Written Answers — Public Procurement Processes: Public Procurement Processes (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together. Primary responsibility for the procurement of projects, goods and services rests with Departments and implementing agencies in accordance with national and EU procurement requirements within the context of the expenditure Estimates and related expenditure guidelines and requirements. Departments and agencies are required to...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of my Department's functions, funding for RAPID is not provided through my Department's Vote.

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The most recent expenditure data on the National Development Plan relates to the period to the end of December 2005. This data is set out in Tables 1 and 2. Data for first six months of 2006 will be available at the Autumn 2006 meetings of the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides an...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. The most recent expenditure data on the National Development Plan relates to the period to the end of December 2005. This data is set out in Tables 1 and 2. Data for the first six months of 2006 will be available at the Autumn 2006 meetings of the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides an...

Written Answers — Exchequer Revenue: Exchequer Revenue (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The figures for non-tax revenue as a percentage of GDP for the past ten years are as follows: GDP Non-Tax Revenue NTR as % GDP €m â'¬m % 1995 53,147 422 0.8 1996 58,806 551 0.9 1997 68,071 426 0.6 1998 78,679 463 0.6 1999 90,612 529 0.6 2000 104,379 529 0.5 2001 117,114 811 0.7 2002 130,515 2,230 1.7 2003 139,097...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Decentralisation to Drogheda encompasses a total of five organisations, including the transfer of around 750 posts. Three Ministers have responsibility for these organisations as follows: Minister Organisation Approximate No. of Posts Environment, Heritage & Local Government Local Government Computer Services Board 90 Social & Family Affairs Department Staff 556 Comhairle 47...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a review for the person for the year 2005 will issue shortly allowing credit for rent paid. As the Revenue Commissioners' records show that no tax was paid, no refund is due for that year. No credit for rent has been allowed for 2006 as the Revenue Commissioners' records show that mortgage interest relief has been allowed since January 2006. If...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent basic data on incomes available from which information of the type requested by the Deputy could be derived are in respect of the income tax year 2003. If the effective rate of income tax for each income earner with gross income in excess of €100,000 in 2003 is calculated as the percentage of total tax liability to total...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland have not had discussions with other State bodies or developers in relation to the disposal or use of the former Shanganagh Prison and have not investigated what if any covenants attached to its use.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The report of the Tax Forecasting Methodology Review Group was published by my Department in 1998 and is available on the Department's website. The findings and recommendations of the report were taken on board by my Department, including the key recommendation that the process whereby taxes are forecast on an individual tax head basis should be supplemented by a top-down macroeconomic test...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Tax revenues are forecast by my Department on an individual tax head basis using, among other things, relevant macro-economic indicators and elasticity factors, where appropriate. For example, forecasts of PAYE revenues are constructed using projected increases in non-agricultural earnings and employment together with estimated elasticity factors for both (elasticity factors in this instance...