Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a P21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23306/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE Balancing Statement Form P21 for the year 2007 issued to the taxpayer on 18 April 2008, together with cheque in settlement. A duplicate statement will issue to the taxpayer in the coming days.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Finance the breakdown of tax free allowances in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that their spouse is not working and who has completed and returned paperwork as requested by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23481/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer is entitled to the married personal tax credit of €3,660 and the employee (PAYE) tax credit of €1,830, making a total of €5,490 per annum, with a standard rate cut-off point of €44,400. A certificate of tax credits and standard rate cut-off point, with this breakdown, issued to the taxpayer on 9 February 2008. As outlined on 29 May 2008 in the reply to Parliamentary Question (21640/08) on this matter, the home carer's tax credit may be due to the taxpayer. The appropriate application form issued to the taxpayer on 27 May 2008 but the Revenue Commissioners have no record of receiving the completed application. A duplicate application form issued to the taxpayer on 12 June 2008.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider his decision to abolish the fuel rebate scheme for road passenger transport services from 31 October 2008 due to the implications for road passenger hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Finance the alternative support mechanisms that will be given on the termination of the excise duty refund for public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23677/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Finance the proposals he has to extend the excise duty refund for public transport services beyond 31 October 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23785/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 221 and 222 together.

The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States. In the Irish context, these derogations allowed inter alia for reduced rates to apply to fuel used for public transport services which includes school transport services. While these derogations expired on 31 December 2006, Ireland, along with other Member States, sought retention of its derogations beyond that date. However the European Commission, who is the deciding authority, refused such requests.

The Finance Act 2008, as the Deputies are aware, consequently provided the legislative changes to withdraw the relief in respect of fuel used for public passenger transport vehicles. The relief will be withdrawn with effect from 1 November 2008 and the appropriate full excise rates will apply from that date. In the circumstances outlined above the question of reconsidering or deferring the withdrawal of the existing relief does not therefore arise.

The Department of Transport and other relevant line Departments have, in conjunction with my Department, explored alternative mechanisms that might be used to direct Exchequer resources toward such services from that date, subject of course to compatibility with competition and EU State Aid requirements. While the matter is still being considered it is necessary however to stress, despite the claims being made otherwise, that introducing an alternative suitable mechanism is not a straightforward matter.