Results 16,841-16,860 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget Statement in December 2004 that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners would undertake a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. Certain schemes have been reviewed by two external consultancy firms and the tax incentives for private hospitals was one of the schemes reviewed. As regards estimates of tax forgone...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: A private hospital has to meet certain conditions before it can be regarded as a qualifying building and these conditions are set out in section 268(2A) TCA 1997. Conditions include that, the hospital must have the capacity to afford medical or surgical services all year round, provide a minimum of 70 inpatient beds, outpatient services, operating theatres and on-site diagnostic and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: Claims for tax relief on private hospitals are generally aggregated in tax returns with other claims and do not distinguish at present between the reliefs claimed in respect of different schemes. Provisions were included in the Finance Act 2004 to get much of this data separately in future. The preliminary data should become available from early 2006 following the returns of income filed in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The position is that the rate of VAT that applies to a particular good or service is determined by the nature of the good or service, and not by the status of the customer. The VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. There is no provision in European VAT law that would allow the application of an exemption from VAT...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: What about tax changes?

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: Have a guess.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: Competition for the new funds will stimulate excellence through collaboration and change. Details of the administration of the fund will be announced by the Minister for Education and Science over the coming days. In addition, it is essential that investment in modern facilities is maintained in university and institute of technology campuses around the country. As a result, we are committing...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——will form an intrinsic part of our central planning mechanism. National Development Plan 2000-2006 Under the current national development plan ending next year there have been unprecedented levels of investment in our economic and social infrastructure. This investment is delivering real outputs improving the quality of life for our citizens. Investment in roads will see the completion...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——to ensure joined up thinking and the delivery of projects on time and on budget. National Development Plan 2007-2013 The next national development plan, which will cover the period 2007 to 2013, will set out a coherent and integrated strategy for investment in economic and social infrastructure. It will be done within a framework of budget sustainability and will be informed by key...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: This will bring the old age contributory pension to €193.30 per week, which means we will be well on the way to achieving the programme for government commitment to increase the State pension to €200 per week by 2007. We are increasing non-contributory pensions by €16 per week, an increase of 9.6% bringing the maximum rate to €182 per week. We recognise that many non-contributory...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——will be disregarded for means test purposes. Other weekly welfare payments All other personal weekly social welfare rates will be increased by €17 per week. This will bring the lowest full personal social welfare rate from €148.80 to €165.80 per week, an increase of 11%.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The increase also represents substantial progress towards the implementation of our commitments in the programme for Government and in Sustaining Progress. Child benefit In 2006, the monthly rate for the first and second child will increase to €150 and the rate for third and subsequent children will increase to €185.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The amounts are €7.10 and €8.40. The Deputy should try to learn the rates before coming in here.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: This completes the transition to a higher rate of child benefit as promised last year. The monthly rate for the first and second child in 1997, when Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's party was in Government, was €38.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The rate is now four times higher.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: The budget summary contains a wide range of other social welfare improvements.

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: Social welfare recipients would like to hear the details of the budget and we should respect that. The budget summary contains a wide range of other social welfare improvements the full details of which will be announced by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. In the light of my opening remarks on the social welfare package, I would like to highlight the following planned improvements:...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——and I will also announce cuts in home heating oil taxes later in my statement to address fuel deficits on a broader basis; an increase in the rate of respite care grant to €1,200; an enhanced carer's allowance rate of €200 per week for people aged 66 or over and €180 for those under the age of 66——

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: ——and improvements in the terms of the disability allowance, back to work allowance and back to education allowance schemes to assist participation in the labour force. In addition, in line with commitments under Sustaining Progress, the rate of maternity benefit will be increased from 75% to 80% of reckonable earnings. Caring for older people This Government has always given high...

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Brian Cowen: While previous Governments have aimed to support this desire, this Government has decided to make a step-change in the level of care and support service for older people in their home or community. The Tánaiste has discussed with me the need to take an important initiative in this area. The Government has decided to fund an additional package of measures at the level of €150 million in a...