Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the numbers employed in the retail sector and the tax yield by way of income tax, levies and so on; the total tax yield from the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26230/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of employment, the Central Statistics Office compiles data in respect of those employed in the wholesale and retail sectors, as distinct from just the retail sector. Total employment in the wholesale and retail sector in the first quarter of this year was 285,000 which amounted to 14.5% of total employment in theeconomy.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer is not required to specify the particular sector or sub-sector of economic activity that they are involved in. Consequently, the precise yield of tax revenues from the retail sector cannot be readily identified. Information can, however, be provided on an estimated basis to indicate the approximate net amounts of taxes paid (i.e. after allowing for repayments) by taxpayers in the retail sector in relation to VAT (not including VAT on imports), PAYE, Income tax non-PAYE, Corporation tax and Capital Gains Tax. On this basis, the Revenue Commissioners estimate that a tax revenue yield of the order of €4.5 billion was collected under these tax heads in the year 2007 for the sectors categorised as being involved in the retail sector under the international recognised systems applied by Revenue. 2007 is the most recent year for which a reliable breakdown of data is available.