Results 1,741-1,760 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The ESRI SWITCH model was utilised by my Department to analyse the impact of the combined effect of the social welfare and tax changes contained in the budget for 2005 on the distribution of income. As set out in the budget documentation, the model indicated that the most significant net income gains from budget 2005 accrued to those in the lowest income deciles. As Minister for Finance, my...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who will respond directly to the Deputy on the issue.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I take it that the Deputy is referring to appropriations-in-aid, and charges for services, received into my Department's Vote in each of the calendar years 1995-1998. The financial year for Government Offices and Departments is the calendar year. As charges for services are taken in as appropriations-in-aid, the appropriations-in-aid figures include the charges for services figures shown. The...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures are not available to estimate with any accuracy the cost of introducing a roll-over relief for those involved in compulsory purchases of land.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers and percentage of income earners paying tax at the higher rate of income tax for each of the tax years in question are: Tax Year No paying at higher rate Percentage % 1997/1998 424,100 28.4 1998/1999 482,000 30.4 2000/2001 540,400 30.6 2005 633,700 33.2 The numbers of income earners above have been rounded to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Capital allowances are available for child care facilities since their introduction in Finance Act 1999. Under the normal self-assessment rules any person seeking to claim capital allowances in respect of a qualifying building would submit their claim on the appropriate tax return form. Claims for this relief are aggregated in tax returns with other claims, such as with industrial buildings...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, as taxpayers are not required to provide details of the benefit-in-kind arising from employer-provided child care in their tax returns, there is no basis on which an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of this tax exemption can be provided. Similarly, there is no basis on which the number of extra child care places that have been created as a...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The medical criteria for this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. There are six different types of disablement listed under the regulations and a qualifying person must satisfy one or more of them. The six types of disablement are as follows: persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; persons who are...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are unable to provide the statistical information requested. The Revenue Commissioners issued a re-assurance last Friday concerning first time buyers of secondhand houses in which they confirmed that a child, who is a first time buyer, will not be precluded from claiming first time buyer relief where a parent acts as a co-mortgagor in the...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Economic model simulations suggest that, holding other factors constant, each sustained $10 per barrel rise in the price of oil reduces growth in the Irish economy by about 0.5 percentage points in a full year, relative to baseline. It should be noted, however, that because oil has not in the past risen to a level as high as $70 per barrel, it is difficult to accurately simulate such a...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for the years to which the Deputy's questions relate, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of tax write off between the different categories of taxpayer whether individual, company or partnership. Due to confidentiality considerations, Revenue is not in a position to provide the names of...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are unable to provide any information regarding the tax affairs of a company other than when the Deputy asking the question is asking it on behalf of the company concerned. As it would appear that the Deputy is not asking the question with the consent of the company mentioned, the Revenue Commissioners are unable to provide the information...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures of the total yield from various special investigations and initiatives by the Revenue Commissioners, which are available for the years 1998 to 2004 and updated to 31 May 2005 are set out in the following table. Yield from Special Investigations up to end May 2005. Heading Total yields â'¬m DIRT audits 225.0 Bogus...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. It is assumed that what the Deputy requires is the number of claimants for mortgage interest relief and the total amount of tax relief granted by the Revenue Commissioners under the tax relief at source system. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers of claimants for mortgage interest relief in each of the five years...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, until recently, claims for section 23/section 27 reliefs and other similar reliefs, were aggregated in tax returns with other claims, such as with industrial buildings allowances generally or with other capital allowances, and did not distinguish between the reliefs claimed in respect of...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the decisions of the High Court and the Supreme Court, of the dates mentioned, in the case of Vincent Browne v the Attorney General. I understand that the parameters of the decision in the Browne case were considered by the Supreme Court in the subsequent case of Thomas Kennedy v the Attorney General, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. The...

Written Answers — Economic Growth: Economic Growth (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that in 2003 the economy grew by 3.7% in GDP terms and 2.8% in GNP terms. Employment in 2003 expanded by 1.9%. In 2004, the economy is estimated to have grown by 4.9% in GDP terms and 5.5% in GNP terms and employment grew by 3%. The impact on employment of lower than forecast growth would vary according to the source of the lower growth. For...

Written Answers — Economic Growth: Economic Growth (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: At budget time my Department forecast growth in 2005 to be 5.1% in GDP terms and 4.7% in GNP terms. Employment growth was forecast at 1.9%. As is customary, these forecasts will be updated in August with the publication of the Economic Review and Outlook. The impact on employment of lower than forecast growth would vary according to the source of the lower growth. For example, if growth was...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the available information on the number of cars registered and the receipts of VRT for each car class, A1, A2 and A3 for the years 1997 to 2005 is shown in Appendix 1. Included at Appendix 2 are the estimated VAT receipts from cars for the period 1997 to 2005. The amount of VAT collected cannot be identified by car class from within the overall...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: There are no EU level negotiations on the abolition of VRT, although I understand that the Commission is considering a proposal on passenger car taxation. However, it should be noted that VRT is a national tax that falls within the national competence. VRT provides significant revenue to the Irish economy —€946 million in 2004 — which is used to fund vital public services.