Results 12,221-12,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Details of staff employed in my Department are listed below: Numbers of people* serving at 31 October 2002 31 October 2007 Permanent/Probationary 666 646 Temporary/Contract 19 39 Total 685 685 * The numbers represent the actual number of people employed, rather than the wholetime equivalent.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The following table gives details of the amount spent by my Department on flights taken in the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date for 2007.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The following table gives details of the amount spent on courier services, registered post and standard post to date in 2007. Amount spent to date in 2007 â'¬ Courier Services 95,897 Standard Post 236,204 Registered Post 15,150

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The payments made to staff in my Department and its agencies over the last 12 months range from €14,000 to €20,000. I would not consider it appropriate to itemise the payments made to each of the individuals concerned. This information does not include the NTMA, where the pay and conditions of staff are the subject of confidential and personal contracts.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The number of Civil Servants from my Department who have transferred to other Government Departments or have left the Civil Service directly from my Department in each of the past five years is detailed below: Transferred to other Government Departments Left the Civil Service 2007 18 15 2006 49 14 2005 32 30 2004 16 21 2003 25 20

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is referring to issues which, in particular, are dealt with in section 5 of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 in relation to complaints made in good faith to the Standards in Public Office Commission. No allegations of victimisation for whistle blowing were reported to my Department by Departmental staff in the period concerned.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Capital gains tax roll-over relief was abolished in Budget 2003 as a means of widening the CGT tax base after the CGT rate was halved from 40% to 20% in Budget 1998. Other changes to the CGT code in the 2003 Budget included the abolition of indexation relief and the change in the CGT payment date. These changes were made in accordance with the overall taxation policy of widening the tax...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Affordable Housing Certificate presented for signature to them by the taxpayer required confirmation that the taxpayer had not previously claimed income tax relief in respect of interest paid on money borrowed to purchase or build a dwelling. The Revenue Commissioners were unable to certify the certificate as the taxpayer has claimed...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Using the data in the Pre-Budget 2008 income tax ready reckoner, a 1% reduction in the top rate of income tax would cost about €280 million in a full year. The cost quoted is provisional, subject to revision and estimated to the nearest €5 million. The ready reckoner is available on my Department's website, at www.finance.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: As I have indicated in recent responses to similar questions, the Programme for Government is an agreed five year programme between the Government parties, in which we have set out our guiding economic and budgetary policy principles. We are fully committed to pursuing the implementation of responsible fiscal policy. Formulation and agreement by Government of spending and taxation plans for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not aware of any delays in issuing tax refunds to PAYE taxpayers and that they are currently being dealt with within the time limit indicated in the Commissioners' customer service standards. I am also informed that repayment cheques for refunds relating to reviews carried out for 2006 and prior years will continue to be generated up...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 157 together. The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States. In the Irish context, these derogations allowed for reduced rates to apply to fuel used for public transport services which includes school transport services. While these derogations...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The tax affairs of individual taxpayers are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners who, under the duty of confidentiality which they have to taxpayers, do not comment on particular cases.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: A table outlining my Departments buildings and their accessibility status is provided below: Building Fully Accessible Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 Yes Unit 2, Central Business Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Yes Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4 Yes 14-16 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 Yes 2-4 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 Yes Ballagh House, 73-79 Lower Mount...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The direct costs associated with my Department's Press Office are detailed below: Quarter 1 2007 Quarter 2 2007 Quarter 3 2007 Total Salaries and Employer's PRSI 53,192.70 60,125.03 53,762.93 167,080.66 Travel and Subsistence 535.37 656.67 535.80 1,727.84 Other 9,976.00 7,348.32 4,299.92 21,624.24 Grand Total 63,704.07 68,130.02 58,598.65 190,432.74 The cost of shared services such as...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In the time available, it has not been possible to collate the data required by the Deputy. This process is underway and my Department will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as the process is completed.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The extent of my responsibility varies in accordance with the nature of the legal arrangements. I have responsibility in relation to Government policy in each case. The legislation and statutory instruments establishing organisations or authorities operating within my Department's policy area varies according to the nature of the body involved, the functions it performs and the need for it to...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: A feasibility study is being undertaken on a proposal to extend the existing premises with a view to resolving congestion issues.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Commissioners of Public Works that no money has been spent in 2006 and 2007 for Government Departments or State agencies on leasing properties which are not being used because decentralisation has not proceeded as planned.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Commissioners of Public Works act as agents for the Department of Education and Science for the acquisitions of sites for schools. In the case of Skibbereen a total of twelve sites were examined and assessed. One site was withdrawn by the Vendors. One site was regarded as suitable by the Local Authority but would require very extensive pre-construction works. The remainder were...