Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of imported used cars registered here from Japan, the UK and the European Community in each year from 1993 to 2005. [8885/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In my earlier reply to the Deputy on 2 February 2005, as advised by the Revenue Commissioners, I stated that accurate data in relation to the country of origin of imported used vehicles are not available. However, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information on country of origin is entered by customers on VRT form 4 at the time of registration on a voluntary basis but may not be correct as regards the country of origin in all cases. A breakdown of the numbers of imported used cars by country of origin, as entered by customers, is set out in the following table. The earliest year for which the information is available is 1996.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Finance if tax relief for the purchase of travel tickets is available to commuters who use non State-owned forms of public transport, such as private bus operators; if he will consider extending this relief to cover such commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the position in relation to travel tickets is that where an employer provides an employee with an annual or monthly bus or train pass, the cost of such a pass is not taxable. In addition, where an employee foregoes salary, and such salary foregone is used by the employee to purchase an annual or monthly bus or train pass, then the salary foregone is not taxable. Both of these instances are subject to certain conditions.

The relevant provisions are not confined to State-owned forms of public transport. At present, the requirement is that the bus or train pass must be issued by an "approved transport provider", defined as: CIE, any of its subsidiaries or a person who provides a passenger transport service under an arrangement entered into by CIE in accordance with section 13(1) of the Transport Act 1950; or a private bus operator holding a passenger licence under section 7 of the Road Transport Act 1932; or the Railway Procurement Agency, any of its subsidiaries or a person who has entered into an arrangement with the agency in accordance with section 43(6) of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 to operate a railway.

The Deputy will be aware that the Finance Bill 2005, which is currently before the Seanad, proposes to add the operators of certain ferry services to the list of approved transport providers.