Results 15,621-15,640 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Exchequer Revenue: Exchequer Revenue (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The figures for non-tax revenue as a percentage of GDP for the past ten years are as follows: GDP Non-Tax Revenue NTR as % GDP €m â'¬m % 1995 53,147 422 0.8 1996 58,806 551 0.9 1997 68,071 426 0.6 1998 78,679 463 0.6 1999 90,612 529 0.6 2000 104,379 529 0.5 2001 117,114 811 0.7 2002 130,515 2,230 1.7 2003 139,097...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Decentralisation to Drogheda encompasses a total of five organisations, including the transfer of around 750 posts. Three Ministers have responsibility for these organisations as follows: Minister Organisation Approximate No. of Posts Environment, Heritage & Local Government Local Government Computer Services Board 90 Social & Family Affairs Department Staff 556 Comhairle 47...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a review for the person for the year 2005 will issue shortly allowing credit for rent paid. As the Revenue Commissioners' records show that no tax was paid, no refund is due for that year. No credit for rent has been allowed for 2006 as the Revenue Commissioners' records show that mortgage interest relief has been allowed since January 2006. If...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent basic data on incomes available from which information of the type requested by the Deputy could be derived are in respect of the income tax year 2003. If the effective rate of income tax for each income earner with gross income in excess of €100,000 in 2003 is calculated as the percentage of total tax liability to total...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland have not had discussions with other State bodies or developers in relation to the disposal or use of the former Shanganagh Prison and have not investigated what if any covenants attached to its use.

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The report of the Tax Forecasting Methodology Review Group was published by my Department in 1998 and is available on the Department's website. The findings and recommendations of the report were taken on board by my Department, including the key recommendation that the process whereby taxes are forecast on an individual tax head basis should be supplemented by a top-down macroeconomic test...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Tax revenues are forecast by my Department on an individual tax head basis using, among other things, relevant macro-economic indicators and elasticity factors, where appropriate. For example, forecasts of PAYE revenues are constructed using projected increases in non-agricultural earnings and employment together with estimated elasticity factors for both (elasticity factors in this instance...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: Promotion practices in the public service are being managed in a way which facilitates the achievement of the decentralisation programme in an efficient manner. In the Civil Service agreement has been reached with the general service unions that all interdepartmental promotions for general service grades will be made on the basis of the appointee agreeing to move to a post in a decentralising...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Central Applications Facility provided for 131 posts to decentralise to Tullamore and 33 posts to decentralise to Kildare. In the case of 77 posts, staff have either been reassigned within the Department of Finance, have left the Department to decentralise with other Departments, have resigned, retired or have been promoted and transferred to other posts. In the case of a further 37...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I would refer the Deputy to the Decentralisation Implementation Group's July, 2005 report which identified progress in relation to property, implementation planning, numbers of applicants and human resources and industrial relations issues. In line with the Group's approach to phasing, the report provided indicative construction start and completion dates for the procurement of office...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following tables give a breakdown of the number of posts of specialist skills which are planned to decentralise and the number of people who have indicated a willingness to move with their post, for my Department and agencies under the aegis of my Department. However, the figures following do not include specialised staff who have accepted decentralising posts in the period since the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: The following table shows the number of people in my Department who have been assigned for Tullamore and Kildare, those who are new recruits and those who are moving on promotion. Tullamore Kildare Number of persons assigned 97 15 Number of new recruits 12 0 Number moving on promotion 15 11

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of my Department's functions, funding for RAPID is not provided through my Department's Vote.

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The most recent expenditure data on the National Development Plan relates to the period to the end of December 2005. This data is set out in Tables 1 and 2. Data for first six months of 2006 will be available at the Autumn 2006 meetings of the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides an...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (24 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. The most recent expenditure data on the National Development Plan relates to the period to the end of December 2005. This data is set out in Tables 1 and 2. Data for the first six months of 2006 will be available at the Autumn 2006 meetings of the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees. The National Development Plan (NDP) provides an...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 124 together. The position is that homecare services provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) do not generally come within the scope of VAT, as Public Bodies are not regarded as taxable persons. This means that they do not charge VAT on the services they provide and cannot recover VAT incurred on their input costs. The package of services...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is probably aware, the aggregate value of remuneration packages of executives, be they Irish or foreign, may consist of a number of items other than cash including, for example, a company car, shares or medical benefits. The structuring or restructuring of such remuneration packages is a matter for employees and their employers. Indeed, the restructuring of a remuneration...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 107 and 137 together. Stamp Duty is a charge on documents, which are mostly legal documents, used in the transfer of property. Where a property is purchased, stamp duty is charged on the conveyance or transfer effecting change of legal ownership of the property concerned. If there is no conveyance, there is no stamp duty. A builder or developer can,...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are satisfied with the levels of supervision exercised by customs officers at points of entry into the State. In relation to drugs smuggling through airports, in the five years to 2005 customs officers made 3,428 drugs seizures, with a street value of approximately €23 million, in Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. As regards...

Written Answers — Mortgage Interest Rates: Mortgage Interest Rates (23 May 2006)

Brian Cowen: There is a high degree of competition in the Irish mortgage credit market, providing a wide choice of competitively priced mortgage products including long-term fixed-rate mortgages. The choice of mortgage product ultimately rests with the consumer and the lending institution concerned. The preference of borrowers is influenced by factors such as their personal circumstances and their own...