Results 4,401-4,420 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest available information in respect of taxpayers availing of the home carer's tax credit is for the income tax year 2003. The potential numbers of claimants are provisionally estimated for later years. Numbers of taxpayers availing of the home carer's tax credit, formerly an allowance, but converted to a tax credit in 2001, are as...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of Public Works (OPW) have agreed to lease a premises suitable for Revenue's needs in Listowel. All of the lease terms have been agreed and the OPW are awaiting fit-out proposals. It is expected that the building will be ready for occupation early in 2007. The movement of staff to Listowel is to commence once the building is available.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 the Revenue Commissioners do not have the power to waive gift or inheritance tax properly due. However Section 59 does provide for the postponement of tax by the Commissioners where excessive hardship would be involved. The Revenue Commissioners statement of practice (SP-CAT/1/90) outlines the practice and procedure to be followed in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The issue of a P21 is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I have been informed by Revenue that the person in question has not applied for a P21. If he wishes to do so he should telephone Lo-call 1890 22 24 25 or write to Revenue at Cork PAYE, Government Offices, Sullivan's Quay, Cork. Alternatively he can apply on line at www.revenue.ie, PAYE on Line, self-service for employees.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I can confirm that while there is no public service embargo in place, the Government has followed a targeted numbers policy since December 2002. Under this policy the growth in public sector employment has slowed substantially overall and has been reversed in several areas. I have indicated previously that duplication of professional and technical staff is not proposed in the context of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not propose to introduce any new system of appointments to the boards of public bodies. The arrangements for the composition of and appointment to the boards of State bodies are usually set out in the legislation establishing the bodies. Normally, these appointments are made by the Minister with responsibility for the body in question, subject to the consent of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 268 together. I am aware of the extra expense that can arise for parents who have children with dyslexia. In recent years, the Government has increased significantly the supports available through the direct expenditure system for children with disabilities, including those with dyslexia. As with many areas where State support may be required, the...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The same arrangements for scrutiny by the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts that apply to traditionally procured projects apply also to projects procured by means of a public private partnership arrangement. In general terms, this scrutiny applies to project expenditure in areas that are subject to audit or other examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General under the Comptroller and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: Prior to 1974 female officers were generally required to resign on marriage and received a marriage gratuity in lieu of any pension benefits. Following the abolition of the marriage bar, any officer appointed before 1974 has the option of resigning within two years of marriage and receiving a marriage gratuity or of remaining in employment. Officers who received a marriage gratuity and who...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that enquiries have revealed that there are no undue delays in the processing of repayment claims. However, if you are aware of a particular instance(s) where the repayment of overpaid taxes has been delayed, you should bring this to the attention of the Regional Office in the Revenue Region dealing with the case(s), who will investigate the matter...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the policy in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service. In relation to the other areas of the public sector, each Minister is responsible for compliance with and reporting on the target set in the Disability Act 2005 for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public bodies under his or her aegis....

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: In relation to the application of tax revenue to expenditure projects, in the 2006 Budget and Estimates I announced very significant increases in expenditure, particularly for priority areas such as health, education, social welfare and child-care. The allocation of funding to specific sport and playground facilities is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Minister...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together. The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 is implemented through seven Operational Programmes (OPs). The most recent expenditure data on the Plan relates to the period to the end December 2005. The data for the first six months of 2006 will be available at the end of October 2006 following the...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 is implemented through seven Operational Programmes. The most recent expenditure data for the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Region on the Plan relates to the period to the end December 2005. The data for first six months of 2006 will be available at the end of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: As outlined to the Deputy in May, a joint Union/Management Working Group was established in January 2005 to examine certain recommendations of the Commission on Public Service Pensions in relation to Public Service Spouses' and Children's Schemes and report to the Minister for Finance on the implementation of same. The Working Group comprises representatives from various Government...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The PPARS project is, as we speak, providing payments for up to 30,000 employees and dealing with the HR issues of more than 70,000 employees in the health service. It was initiated by the health boards during the tenure of the rainbow Government. On the rolling out of the IT projects, it is clear that I have introduced value for money initiatives that have ensured that we are able to assess...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The leader of the Opposition is not up to date on the accountability issues regarding how health funding is spent. The money has been sanctioned to the HSE and these are matters for it.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am just updating the Leader of the Opposition because if he is not up to date with procedures, people will have no choice and no chance. The Opposition is totally backward about the arrangements that are in place. The HSE deals with the sanctioning of individual projects and does not require my sanction or that of the Minister for Health and Children. We have given the global allocations.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The HSE is rightly assessing all these arrangements in relation to IT processes, some of which, as Deputies will be aware, come from the old health board system. These are being evaluated by the former CEO of the Southern Health Board, Seán Hurley, an eminent and competent health board official. Mr. Hurley has been given the responsibility of doing this on behalf of the HSE, which has...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The IPO was a successful floating of the equity by the State. It went well and was held up by the market as such.