Written answers

Thursday, 8 June 2006

5:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Finance the breakdown by gender of the number of people claiming the one parent family tax credit for each year since the year 2003 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22000/06]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a breakdown by gender of the estimated number of income earners availing of the one parent family tax credit, for the years 2003 to 2005 inclusive, is set out in the following table:

Year Single Male Single Female Widower Male Widow Female Total
2003 30,250 64,490 2,820 7,150 104,710
2004 31,280 66,470 2,850 7,290 107,890
2005 31,980 67,860 2,910 7,410 110,160
(Figures are rounded to the nearest ten, provisional and subject to revision)

The numbers availing of the one parent family tax credit represent income earners who were in a position to absorb at least some of the one parent family tax credit and thereby give rise to an Exchequer cost. They do not include the numbers of potential claimants whose entitlements to other tax credits were sufficient to reduce their liability to tax to nil. The figures shown in the table are estimates which are derived from the Revenue tax forecasting model using actual data for the year 2002 adjusted to reflect actual or estimated growth in employment and wages for the year in question.

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Finance if persons who are not paying maintenance or who are not complying will maintenance requirements are still eligible for the one parent family tax credit; if so, his plans to make changes to this situation; if he will provide figures for the number of people who have been refused the one parent family tax credit as a result of non-compliance with maintenance payments for each year since the year 2003 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22001/06]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the assertion on page 112 of the recently published Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents (details supplied); the action he intends to take on foot of this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22002/06]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a one-parent family tax credit is a credit that can be claimed by a single parent (whether widowed, single, deserted, separated or divorced) who has a dependent child resident with him/her for the whole or part of the relevant tax year. The payment or non-payment of maintenance, as the case may be, by such a single parent is not a determining factor in entitlement to the one-parent family tax credit in respect of children of a claimant. The statistics sought by the Deputy do not exist. In relation to the Government Discussion Paper — Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, the maintenance requirements mentioned on page 112 of the Paper, and quoted in the details supplied with the Deputy's question, are those which arise specifically under Social Welfare legislation. That legislation provides that liable relatives shall be liable to contribute such amount as may be determined towards support payments, such as the one-parent family payment, deserted wife's allowance or benefit or supplementary welfare allowance paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The recommendation to which the Deputy refers is made in the context of enhancement of procedures whereby liable relatives are pursued in this regard. The Paper in question is, as its name indicates, a discussion paper on the issues facing lone parents, the purpose of which is to allow a full and frank debate and all views to be aired, all sections of society to be heard and in time areas of agreement and consensus to evolve and emerge. The question of making any changes in the conditions attaching to the one-parent family tax credit would be one for consideration in the context of future Finance Bills.

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