Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and name of companies that had tax liabilities of £200,000 or more written off by the Revenue Commissioners from 1979 to 1982 inclusive; the amounts written off; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23108/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and name of companies that had tax liabilities of £200,000 or more written off by the Revenue Commissioners from 1988 to 1992 inclusive; the amounts written off; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23109/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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 taxpayers who had tax liabilities written off by them.

The annual tax write off for the periods 1979 to 1982 and 1988 to 1992 is as follows:

The reason for the write off is set out in the following tables. The classification of grounds for write off changed over the years in question and these are reflected in the tables.

The main reason for the increase in the value of write off over the period 1988 to 1992 was due to a review of tax arrears on record which commenced after the 1988 amnesty. This review which was ongoing over the years 1988 to 1992 led not only to more effective collection of taxes but also, inevitably, to the increase in the amount of taxes deemed irrecoverable.

It should be noted that the amount written off may overstate the actual liability as many of the cases included estimated amounts. Following an examination of tax write off arrangements in place prior to 1997, Revenue received general approval from the Comptroller and Auditor General for the criteria to be used in new arrangements for the write off of tax debt. These procedures are subject to audit on an annual basis and the results are published in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) or any related company had tax liabilities written off by the Revenue Commissioners of more than £200,000 between 1979 and 1983, inclusive; if so, the amounts written off; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23110/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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 sought as the tax affairs of the company are confidential between them and the Revenue Commissioners.