Results 4,641-4,660 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: In the matter of cost variations, it is important to recall that in the early years of the NDP, following the acceleration of public expenditure on capital projects, construction cost inflation was running at 12% per annum in 1999 and 2000. This has now moderated and in the interim cost estimation and control systems have been strengthened. Procurement policy and practice has also been...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following table contrasts the Central Applications Facility (CAF) application levels in September 2004 with those in June 2006: September 2004 June 2006 Increase/Decrease Total CAF Applicants* 8,958 10,672 +1,714 CAF Applicants for new locations 7,793 9,135 +1,342 CAF Applicants for existing locations 1,165 1,537 +372 *The total number of CAF applicants in September 2004 was 9,214...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 205, 206, 208 and 209 together. The position is that expenses in respect of tuition for children with dyslexia do not qualify for health expenses tax relief and have never qualified for the relief since it was first introduced in 1967. I understand from the Revenue Commissioners, who deal with such claims, that individuals may have been under the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are three significant financial elements of the sugar compensation package, as far as farmers, as sugar beet growers, are concerned. The first is an amount of €123 million, payable over the next seven years via the single payment scheme, as compensation for the drop in the support price of beet. The second element of the compensation package is the restructuring aid. In July 2006 the...

Written Answers — Sale of Aer Lingus: Sale of Aer Lingus (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: To date the Exchequer has received €206,705,455 from the sale of shares in Aer Lingus. These funds have been lodged to the Exchequer and will be classified in the Finance Accounts as Capital Receipts.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the additional revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer arising from the increase in the price of petrol and other oil products relates to the Value Added Tax portion of the increased price since the start of the year. The revenue collected from mineral oil excises does not fluctuate with price changes. The estimated yield of additional value...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: In recognition of the need to tackle the issue of climate change and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, this Government has introduced a number of tax reliefs aimed at promoting environmentally friendly vehicles, in addition to the promotion of alternative motor fuels. Firstly, a VRT relief for hybrid electric vehicles was introduced in January 2001. The purpose of the scheme — which...

Written Answers — Tax Fraud: Tax Fraud (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their audit and compliance programmes target particular sectors from time to time and that one of those sectoral programmes includes the investigation of security firms supplying door security. I am advised that it is not possible to give a figure for the estimated cost of tax fraud in this sector. Neither are full Revenue statistics available...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: 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 children. The Working Group Examining the Treatment of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have no plans to introduce a scheme along the lines proposed. In line with normal practice, stamp duty revenues are applied by the Exchequer for the common good, as determined by the Oireachtas. Earmarking particular taxes reduces the discretion of Government and the Oireachtas in determining the priority areas in which public money should be spent.

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (18 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will appreciate that in line with normal practice in the run up to the annual Budget and Finance Bill I do not wish to comment further on the intention or otherwise to make changes in taxation. In addition, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, matters relating to tourism policy are a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism and individual actions and...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (18 Oct 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. The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions...

Written Answers — Ordnance Survey Ireland: Ordnance Survey Ireland (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) that in line with international standards and developments in other European countries, OSI has developed a new GPS compatible mapping system for the entire country known as ITM (Irish Transverse Mercator). The ITM system is based on the GPS and European Geodetic Reference System Standards known as ETRS89 (European Terrestrial Reference System...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: There is no upper limit on the grade which can be obtained within the Civil Service by a person with a disability. Recruitment to and promotion within the Civil Service is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and by the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 -2005. The 2004 Act provides for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service...

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: Under Section 7 of the National Lottery Act 1986, the total number of persons who may be authorised to sell National Lottery tickets is determined by the National Lottery Company with the consent of the Minister for Finance. The licence granted by the Minister for Finance to An Post National Lottery Company to operate the National Lottery sets out incremental annual targets for the number of...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: My Department maintains FOI statistics in a format required for reporting purposes to the Information Commissioner. From the data held it is not possible to develop all the specific statistical breakdowns required by the Deputy. The following table provides the information my Department has been able to produce in response to the Deputy's queries. In any analysis of the patterns relating...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 152, inclusive, together. I am informed by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) that the latest data from the Central Applications Facility (CAF) shows that a total of 49 public servants from outside OSI and 16 OSI staff have applied to decentralise to Dungarvan, Co Waterford. The indicative data available from CAF indicates that the majority of applicants to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest relevant figures available are in respect of the income tax year 2003. The total cost of tax relief on pensions contributions is tentatively estimated at approximately €2.9 billion. This total figure is broken down as follows both in terms of numbers where available and in terms of costs. Type of Pension Contributions Numbers 2003...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the only relevant information available is in respect of income tax relief allowed for contributions to "Retirement Annuity Contracts" for the income tax year 2003, which are available to the self-employed and to employees not in occupational pension schemes. A distribution by income ranges of the number of cases, amount of deduction and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Oct 2006)

Brian Cowen: The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Ireland has a reduced VAT rate of 13.5% and a standard VAT rate of 21%. Under the Sixth VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to new goods and services. However,...