Written answers
Tuesday, 13 December 2005
- Public-Private Partnerships
Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance the value of investment undertaken in 2004 and to date in 2005 under PPP, distinguishing those involving tolling; and if he will make a statement on... - Tax Code
Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has conducted an evaluation in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children of the tax relief for private hospital investment; and if... - Duty Free Sales
Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the thresholds for personal purchases overseas are set at unrealistic levels and are unenforceable; and if he will make a... - Tax Code
Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is inequitable that earnings from capital are effectively taxed at a lower rate than earnings from income; and if he will make... - Benchmarking Awards
Question 59: To ask the Minister for Finance the changes which are under consideration regarding the terms of reference, the membership and the matching programme delivery targets underpinning... - Special Savings Incentive Scheme
Question 60: To ask the Minister for Finance the underlying assumptions which he has made regarding the impact on consumption and on saving of the maturing of SSIAs. [38845/05] - Tax Code
Question 61: To ask the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of income earners who are paying tax at the higher rate and the standard rate for 2005; the anticipated figures for each... - Personal Debt
Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance his views of recent reports showing a significant increase in the level of personal debt, with some reports suggesting that households here are likely... - Tax Code
Question 63: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he proposes to take to address the fact that the average house price in Dublin exceeds the €315,000 stamp duty threshold set in budget... - Public Service Staff
Question 66: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the target of reducing public service employment has been achieved. [38966/05] - Decentralisation Programme
Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance the total number of civil servants and other public servants who will have been decentralised from Dublin to other locations by the original deadline... - Tax Code
Question 68: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received any fresh analysis of the tax relief availed of by top earners as revealed by the Revenue Commissioners' study of the 400 highest... - Tax Yield
Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance the assumptions and methodology underpinning his estimate of the increase in revenue from capital taxes in 2006 (details supplied). [38846/05] - Tax Code
Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance the revisions he may consider to the section 481 scheme for investment in film production here; the reasons these revisions may be required; if he... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions that have taken place between his Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS regarding the proposed... - Public Service Contracts
Question 74: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Government can play a greater role in the promotion of small and medium enterprises through its public procurement policies;... - Fiscal Policy
Question 75: To ask the Minister for Finance the general policy which he advocates regarding dividend payments by commercial State companies. [38830/05] - Tribunals of Inquiry
Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance the status of his proposals to reduce the fees payable at tribunals. [38973/05] - Tax Yield
Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid to date in 2005 to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of settlements made in connection with their investigation into the use of... - Departmental Reviews
Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance the role the centre for management organisation development within his Department is playing in the review of the PPARS computer system; and if he... - Fiscal Policy
Question 79: To ask the Minister for Finance his views regarding the pattern of economic growth and if it necessitates an adjustment in Government policy. [38977/05] - National Development Plan
Question 80: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the consultation process promised in advance of the introduction of a new national development plan; and if he will make a statement... - Oileáin amach ón gCósta
Question 81: To ask the Aire Airgeadais an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas iomlán ar gach gné den socrú idir an Stát, comhlacht príobháideach (sonraí tugtha) agus úinéirí talún maidir le... - Tax Code
Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether any other elements of our tax code could be subject to challenge under state aid rules. [38975/05] - Tax Yield
Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount collected to date in 2005 by the Revenue Commissioners through special investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38997/05] - Tax Code
Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance the tax expenditures for which he cannot provide all information in each case regarding their purpose, their cost to the Exchequer in terms of tax... - Tax Collection
Question 85: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount repaid by the Revenue Commissioners to individual taxpayers in respect of overpayments of tax for each of the years 2000 to date in 2005;... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance the negotiations which have taken place regarding the placement of persons who do not opt to decentralise with their units or agencies; and the... - Tax Collection
Question 88: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of court prosecutions initiated as a result of tax evasion in respect of each year since 1997; the number of cases in which convictions... - Public Service Staff
Question 89: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department's approval was sought by the Health Service Executive for the terms and conditions of employment, including pension rights, of the... - Tax Collection
Question 90: To ask the Minister for Finance the proportion of the almost €2.5 billion outstanding in uncollected taxes which the Revenue Commissioners expect to recover; if new measures are... - National Development Plan
Question 91: To ask the Minister for Finance the preparations which have taken place regarding a replacement for the national development plan; and the way in which the inputs will be cobbled... - Tax Code
Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the current VAT threshold is in need of change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/05] - Tax Collection
Question 93: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of random audits carried out by the Revenue Commissioners to date in 2005; the number expected to be undertaken by the end of 2005; and if... - Tax Yield
Question 94: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the Exchequer returns for the first 11 months of 2005. [39001/05] - Tax Collection
Question 95: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry at... - National Development Plan
Question 96: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the rate of implementation of the national development plan; if he expects the plan to be implemented in full by the end of... - Public Service Staff
Question 97: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent concern expressed by the chief executive of the Equality Authority (details supplied) at what he... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 98: To ask the Minister for Finance the timescale for decentralisation to Listowel, County Kerry; the number of applicants for relocation to Listowel; and if he will make a statement on... - State Property
Question 99: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the planned sale of State property announced by his Minister of State; the property sold to date in 2005 and the amount raised;... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 100: To ask the Minister for Finance if an estimate has been undertaken of the number of civil or public servants, who do not wish to relocate, who will be surplus to requirements as a... - Departmental Reports
Question 101: To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which he will present to Dáil Éireann the detailed reports emerging from the present review of various aspects of the tax code. [38834/05] - Interest Rates
Question 102: To ask the Minister for Finance his Department's assessment of the implications for the economy here of the recent 0.25% increase in interest rates announced by the European... - Tax Code
Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has evaluated the impact of the tax credit on incremental research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/05] - Pension Provisions
Question 104: To ask the Minister for Finance the terms on which funds in the National Pensions Reserve Fund have been made available for public sector projects; and the reason they have not been... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Departments or State agencies concerned at the potential loss of expertise and corporate knowledge as a result... - Computerisation Programme
Question 106: To ask the Minister for Finance if the promised peer review system for large ICT projects is in place; the way in which it will operate; the threshold of figure above which the peer... - Tax Code
Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance the situation regarding the artists' tax exemption scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the booklet, Testimonials on the Artists Tax Exemption... - Special Savings Incentive Scheme
Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of special savings investment scheme accounts opened at the latest date for which figures are available; the average amount of savings per... - Departmental Expenditure
Question 110: To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which the Office of Public Works processes have been reformed in order that the type of waste outlined in a programme (details supplied)... - Pension Provisions
Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Government has, in 2005, made additional contributions to the statutory setting aside and investing of 1% of GNP annually to the National... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in view of figures showing that fewer than one in nine civil servants wish to move with their current jobs under the Government's... - Economic Competitiveness
Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the contrasting trends reported by the Central Statistics Office regarding employment growth and output growth in the economy, which... - Tax Code
Question 114: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to undertake a comprehensive review of tax residency rules on the basis of the report that is to be supplied to him by the Revenue... - Tax Collection
Question 115: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Ansbacher accounts at the latest date... - Tax Code
Question 116: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has exercised his powers to block the emergence of a common corporate tax base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38964/05] - Price Inflation
Question 117: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the observations of the Office of Public Works regarding the sanction of increases in gas prices. [38833/05] - Banking Sector Regulation
Question 118: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has initiatives to promote the greater use of e-banking. [38965/05] - Public Service Contracts
Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the concerns expressed by the construction industry in respect of new Government contract terms; and if he will make a statement... - State Property
Question 120: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount received for the recent sale of the State owned site at the former Veterinary College in Ballsbridge; the amount paid in respect of fees... - Decentralisation Programme
Question 121: To ask the Minister for Finance the costs incurred to date in 2005 or expected arising from the Government's decentralisation programme, the number of properties purchased, leased,... - State Agencies
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Finance the targets he has set for the National Development Finance Agency; and the way in which it is performing against target. [38835/05] - Decentralisation Programme
Question 124: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is reassessing the so-called decentralisation process in view of recent figures regarding numbers of persons willing to relocate; and if he... - Garda Stations
Question 125: To ask the Minister for Finance the timeframe for the provision of the new Garda station for Castleisland, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38790/05] - Decentralisation Programme
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the information available from the central applications facility in respect of applications from civil servants and other public servants currently... - Public Service Contracts
Question 127: To ask the Minister for Finance if the measures he has taken to date in 2005 are sufficient to eliminate the prospect of cost overruns in respect of public contracts or... - Tax Code
Question 128: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has consulted with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the subject of a site value tax; if the... - Motor Fuels
Question 130: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has commissioned or carried out studies on the impact of peak oil on the economy here; the way in which this impact might be... - Fiscal Policy
Question 131: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the recently published estimates of receipts and expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2006. [39002/05] - Interest Rates
Question 132: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has estimated the impact of a 1% rise in interest rates on personal repayments; and the extent to which this will fall disproportionately on... - Disabled Drivers
Question 133: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the criteria laid down for disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; if, in view of the fact that this section of... -
European Council Meetings
Question 134: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the ECOFIN meeting of 6 December 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38910/05] - Tax Yield
Question 135: To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which his Department calculates the costs and benefits of tax expenditures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38904/05]
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