Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of medical relief claims recorded in respect of the tax years 2003, 2004 and 2005; and the cost of relief granted. [8015/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which complete information on cost to the Exchequer and numbers of claimants for tax relief regarding medical expenses is for the income tax year 2002.

In that year, an estimated 143,850 claimants availed of the tax relief for medical expenses, at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €63 million.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of private rent relief claims, distinguishing whether over 55 or under 55, recorded in respect of the tax years 2003, 2004 and 2005; and the value of relief granted. [8016/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which complete information on cost to the Exchequer and numbers of claimants for tax relief regarding claims for rent paid in private tenancies is for the income tax year 2002.

In 2002, an estimated 2,000 claimants aged over 55 and 95,400 claimants aged 55 and under availed of the tax relief for rent paid in private tenancies, at an estimated total cost to the Exchequer of €26.4 million.

Preliminary figures for 2003 indicate that the numbers of claimants for the tax relief in that year are of a similar order.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of bin charge relief claims recorded in respect of 2003, 2004 and 2005; and the value of relief granted. [8017/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the most recent year for which complete information on cost to the Exchequer and numbers of claimants for tax relief regarding local authority service charges is for the income tax year 2002.

In that year, an estimated 124,900 claimants availed of the tax relief for the service charges, at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €5.2 million.

Preliminary figures for 2003 indicate that the numbers of claimants for the tax relief in that year are of the order of 165,000.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of P45s recorded to date in respect of 2003, 2004 and 2005; and the tax repayment which arose in respect of people moving jobs in each year. [8018/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers of P45 forms, part 1, recorded to date in respect of the years specified are as follows:

In addition to those centrally processed P45 forms, Revenue staff may also process a small number of P45s locally, for which no statistics are available. However, those would be insignificant in the context of the overall numbers of P45s received.

If a person is unemployed for a period between jobs, he or she may be entitled to an unemployment repayment. I am advised that, for the years specified, the Revenue has only aggregate statistics regarding PAYE repayments made without the issue of a balancing statement. Those would relate not just to unemployment repayments but also, for example, to claims for medical expenses or other reliefs that do not necessarily require a full review and balancing statement.

I am advised, however, that a new PAYE computer system, introduced recently, will be able to provide statistics on unemployment repayments.