Results 4,261-4,280 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: As part of the Decentralisation Programme it is intended that Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) will decentralise to Dungarvan, County Waterford. I am informed by OSI that arrangements are proceeding in accordance with their implementation plan. A site has been acquired in Dungarvan by the Office of Public Works (OPW). A detailed plan of the OSI requirements in the new location has been developed...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is referring to the high proportion of credit union savings that are currently invested in banks and other financial institutions. This largely reflects the strong performance of credit unions in attracting savings. It also reflects the highly competitive environment for lending in which credit unions operate. The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) contends that the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 278 together. The yield on inheritance tax over the last 10 years is: Year Yield € 1996 61,127,644 1997 81,270,994 1998 98,455,375 1999 133,731,623 2000 154,723,513 2001 121,504,568 2002 128,062,522 2003 130,653,240 2004 171,293,533 2005 196,654,582

Written Answers — House Prices: House Prices (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are no official figures available for the value of the entire housing stock. There is only limited data available on legal ownership of houses by age profile. The CSO has advised that a 2004 survey indicated that about two thirds of owner occupied houses are owned by persons over 50. This proportion does not include other houses owned by respondents such as holiday homes or houses...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The preparation of the NDP for the period 2007-2013 has been in progress since the Government announcement last August. The plan is due to be launched next November. It is not intended to publish any drafts of the Plan before its publication. The Plan will be a high level strategic document setting out the overall investment framework for the next seven years. The Plan will not be a list of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The rate of stamp duty on cheques is 15c per cheque. The rate of stamp duty on debit cards (laser) with an ATM function (combined cards) is €20 per annum. The Deputy will be aware that I introduced changes in this year's Finance Act to alter the way that stamp duty is charged on combined cards. The stamp duty on a combined card was reduced to €10 per annum where the card is only used for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The rates of VRT on each category vehicle are as follows: Private Cars A1 Cars under 1,400cc 22.5% of Open Market Selling Price — OMSP A2 1,400 to 1,900cc 25% of OMSP A3 Cars over 1,900cc 30% of OMSP Small vans and some jeeps 13.3% of OMSP Other Vehicles €50 — flat rate In Budget 2003, the band to which the highest VRT rate (30%) applies, was...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 set out to ensure that Ireland remained competitive in the global international marketplace and that the fruits of our economic success would be shared more equally at regional level and throughout our society. The Plan is implemented through seven Operational Programmes comprising 30 sub-programmes and 147...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the time available for answering the question it has not been possible to compile the information sought. However, it will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the table below is an estimate of the number of temporary posts that have been filled and are likely to be filled in the Revenue Commissioners in the coming weeks. Locations No. of Temporary Vacancies Athlone 7 Blackrock 20 Castlebar 10 Cork 27 Dublin 167 Dundalk 15 Ennis 11 Galway 15 Kilkenny 5 Letterkenny 10 ...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that VAT returns are not compiled in a manner which would allow the yield from particular goods or services to be identified. Furthermore, since it is also not possible to distinguish in VAT returns the amount of VAT charged on the environmental levy under the WEEE scheme, which is included in the consideration for the supply of goods, there is no...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Jul 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together. I am informed by the Department of Education & Science that as at 31st December 2005, in excess of 5,500 Section 50 student accommodation units have been certified by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government since the inception of the scheme. Data relating to the number of Section 50 units approved by each third...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The operation of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme was reviewed by a special Interdepartmental Review Group. The terms of reference of the Group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: Following a period of difficulty in organising sufficient meetings of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, I reconstituted the Board in early 2005, and have incrementally expanded the panel of doctors from three to the current seventeen members. This has facilitated more frequent meetings of the Board, thus enabling continuing progress to be made in reducing the backlog of appeals...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: The payment of tax liabilities by specific taxpayers is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by Revenue that their approach with all taxpayers is focused on getting payment of the correct amount of tax on time. Where despite that focus timely and correct payment is not achieved, then Revenue will take all relevant factors into account in determining the approach to be taken...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 465, 471, 496 and 523 together. I referred the case for a review of the limits on longer term lending set out in section 35 of the Credit Union Act, 1997 to the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) earlier this year. In July, CUAC — the statutory expert advisory body on credit union matters — advised me that a review should take place to see if a...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: VAT and Excise tax returns do not specify the income of the consumer and consequently the information sought by the Deputy is not available within my Department.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to the Poverty Proofing done in the Budget Booklet each year, the tax tables showing average tax rates published each year in the same booklet, the annual survey of tax paid by high earners and the three volume report on the use of tax reliefs published last February. In a review of the distributive impact of Budget 2006 in its published Quarterly Economic Commentary, the...

Written Answers — Income Ratio: Income Ratio (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to income for the purposes of income tax and that information required by the Deputy is the ratio of the average income of the top five per cent of income earners to the average income of all income earners. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent basic data on incomes available from which information of the type requested by...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Sep 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 478 together. Generally speaking, the tax system treats members of cohabiting couples as separate and unconnected individuals. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes and credits and bands and reliefs cannot be transferred from one partner to the other. There are no special favourable tax arrangements for cohabiting couples with dependent...