Written answers

Tuesday, 4 November 2008

Department of Finance

Information Transfer

10:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will make available information in relation to the income of individuals through use of PPS numbers to the Health Service Executive or the Department of Social and Family Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38403/08]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general principle, they provide information to other government departments or agencies only where such provision is provided for by law.

The Revenue Commissioners provide the following information in relation to self-employed individuals to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Gross Income

Income reckonable for PRSI

Amount of PRSI due

Percentage of PRSI paid.

In addition, Revenue also provides DSFA with details of gross income and PRSI paid, as returned on P35, in relation to PAYE taxpayers. This information is provided by Revenue in its role as collection agent of PRSI contributions, which determine the individuals' entitlement to benefits from DSFA. The Revenue Commissioners do not currently supply such information to the Health Service Executive and to the best of their knowledge the Health Service Executive has not requested such information.

With regard to the Department of Social and Family Affairs, Section 261(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, which was amended in 2007, provides for the transfer between Revenue and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs of certain information which is held by each body for the purposes of that Act or the Income Tax Acts. The provision of this information is fully compliant with Data Protection legislation.

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