Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has investigated the modalities for the application of income tax to receipts of child benefit and early childhood supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8933/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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All income tax exemptions, allowances and reliefs are reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

As I outlined in my Financial Statement on Budget day last year I fully expect the Commission on Taxation to examine options relating to the tax treatment of universal child benefit and early childcare supplement payments.

I will give careful consideration to any progressive proposals that they may have in this area.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the tax receipts that would arise from the application of income tax to receipts of child benefit and the early childhood supplement. [8934/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2009 incomes, from applying income tax to child benefit and the early child care supplement would be of the order of €510 million. This figure is provisional and subject to revision.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the expected increases in tax receipts in 2009 from increases in the top rate of income tax to 43%, 45% and 47% respectively, if applied from April 2009. [8935/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield to the Exchequer in 2009, of increasing the higher rate of income tax from 41% to 43%, 45%, and 47%, if applied from April 2009, would be of the order of €230 million, €470 million and €700 million respectively. These figures are provisional and subject to revision, and have been rounded to the nearest ten as appropriate.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the expected increase in tax receipts in 2009 from increases in the standard rate of income tax to 21%, 22% and 23% respectively, if applied from April 2009. [8936/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the yield to the Exchequer in 2009 of increasing the standard rate of income tax from 20% to 21%, 22%, and 23%, if applied from April 2009, would be of the order of €310 million, €630 million and €950 million respectively. These figures are provisional and subject to revision, and have been rounded to the nearest ten as appropriate.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the increase in forecast tax receipts for 2010 to 2013, as set out in the revised stability programme, as a result of the combined changes in income tax rates and credits (details supplied). [8937/09]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the increase in forecast tax receipts for 2010 to 2013, as set out in the revised stability programme, as a result of the combined changes in income tax rates and credits (details supplied). [8938/09]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the increase in forecast tax receipts for 2010 to 2013, as set out in the revised stability programme, from the abolition of mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers and other home owners respectively. [8939/09]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the increase in forecast tax receipts for 2010 to 2013, as set out in the revised stability programme, from ending the deductibility of interest payments in assessing taxation on rental income. [8940/09]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the increase in forecast tax receipts for 2010 to 2013, as set out in the revised stability programme, from the abolition of the employee tax credit. [8941/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 151, inclusive, together.

It is assumed that the income tax rate changes the Deputy has in mind is the replacement of the existing higher and standard rates of 41% and 20% by rates of 43% and 22% and of 45% and 23%, respectively and a reduction in the personal and employee tax credits to €1,150 in both cases. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2009 incomes, of the changes mentioned by the Deputy would be of the order of €4.25 billion for rates 43% and 22% and €5.25 billion for rates of 45% and 23% including the reduction in personal and employee tax credits in both cases.

With regard to the abolition of mortgage interest relief for first time buyers and other home owners I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2009, would be of the order of €560 million.

Based on personal income tax returns filed by non-PAYE taxpayers for the year 2007, the estimated amount of tax foregone by allowing a deduction for interest on borrowings to be offset against rents assessable under Case V, Schedule D is of the order of €880 million. This estimate is based on assuming that tax relief was allowed at the top income tax rate of 41% and the figure provided could therefore be regarded as the maximum Exchequer cost in respect of those taxpayers. The nominal yield of €880 million to the Exchequer from abolition of the relief may not be immediate depending on whether there is sufficient taxable rental income in the year of abolition to absorb it.

Finally, in relation to the abolition of the employee tax credit I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2009 incomes, would be of the order of €2.9 billion.

The Addendum to the Stability Programme Update was published on 9 January 2009 and was based on the available information at the end of 2008. The taxation and expenditure projections supplied in the Addendum are a technical representation of what is required at a macro level to achieve the overall fiscal adjustments over the period to 2013. The actual detailed composition of the tax and expenditure measures within the macro framework is a matter for policy decision by Government as part of the budgetary process. Accordingly it is not possible to provide the detailed micro level costings in the manner sought by the Deputy.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the Exchequer proceeds in 2009 for the introduction of a carbon tax of €25 per tonne from April 2009 to all energy related sources of carbon emissions outside of those sectors covered by the emissions trading system. [8942/09]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the annual Exchequer proceeds in 2010 to 2013 respectively from a carbon tax of €25 from 2010, €30 in 2011, €35 in 2012 and €40 in 2013, to be applied to all energy related sources of carbon emissions outside of those sectors covered by the emissions trading system. [8943/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.

The Deputy will be aware the issue of a carbon tax is being considered by the Commission on Taxation. The Commission is due to report by September 2009 at the latest.

Given that the precise design of the carbon tax is yet to be determined as well as other factors such as consumer behaviour, it is not possible to accurately predict the revenue. A lot obviously depends on the assumptions underpinning any anticipated yield. For the purpose of this exercise, it is assumed a carbon tax would apply to both commercial and non-commercial use of diesel, petrol, kerosene, gasoil and LPG. In relation to peat, coal and natural gas, consumption figures (as per SEI Annual Report 2007) for the residential sector alone are used as the majority of commercial consumption of those commodities is used in the production of electricity which is covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Under these assumptions it is estimated that a carbon tax at a rate of €25 per tonne could provide gross yields of approximately €550m per annum.

A prospective 2009 yield, with an introductory date of 1 April 2009, would need to take account of seasonal factors, the payment arrangements put in place for the tax, and therefore an estimate at this stage would not be reliable. I am not in a position at this time to provide estimates in relation to the years 2010 to 2013, which, in addition to the changes in the carbon tax rates proposed, would inter alia depend on the levels of consumption of the fuels subject to the tax in the years in question.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief for contributions to PRSAs, employees' contributions to approved superannuation schemes, employers' contributions to approved superannuation schemes, income and gains of approved superannuation schemes and retired annuity premiums. [8944/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the work on the Green Paper on Pensions, a review was carried out into the current regime of tax incentives for supplementary pension provision. This was done with a view to developing more comprehensive and reliable estimates of the cost of reliefs in this area. Arising from the review, the following estimates of the cost of tax and other reliefs for private pension provision for 2006 have been made (this is the latest year for which, overall, the most relevant data remains available) .

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimate Exchequer proceeds from the application of capital gains tax to proceeds in excess of €500,000, €750,000 and €1 million from sales of principal private residences. [8945/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as information on the value of capital gains arising from the disposal of principal private residences is not required in capital gains tax returns, there is no dedicated basis for separately identifying the yield that would arise from applying capital gains tax to sales of principal private residences. Accordingly, the specific information requested by the Deputy is not available.