Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated yield from the carbon tax; the estimated absolute and percentage increase in the price of each product affected; his estimate of the expenditure by persons of pension age and of the lowest income cohort on these products in total and as a percentage of their income. [45148/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to the introduction of a carbon tax on a phased basis in the context of the 2010 Budget. Indeed work is already underway on the design of a carbon tax. In relation to the issue of fuel poverty, it is acknowledged that appropriate measures may need to be put in place depending on the level of carbon tax introduced. I would draw to the Deputy's attention that it is the usual practice for the Minister for Finance not to speculate or comment in advance of the Budget on what it will contain and I do not propose to deviate from that practice.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated yield from the health levy and the income levy in 2009; and his estimate of the carry-over increase into extra yield in 2010 from the changes made in the course of 2009 to these levies. [45149/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated yield from the health levy in 2009 was €1,892m. This included an estimated receipt of €719m this year from a doubling of the levy in the 2009 Supplementary Budget, with a full year yield of €1,501m. Recent projections indicate a shortfall in this estimate and provision for this shortfall has been included in the 2009 Supplementary Estimate for the HSE currently before the Dáil. The 2010 estimate will be included in the forthcoming Budget in the light of the latest available information.

The Income Levy was introduced in October of last year in Budget 2009 and the rates subsequently increased in the Supplementary Budget in April of this year. Based on these forecasts, it was estimated that the Income Levy would yield approximately €1.1 billion in 2009 and approximately €2 billion in a full year. Revised forecasts will be published in the White Paper on Receipts and Expenditure on 5 December, which will set out tax forecasts for 2010 revenues on a pre-Budget basis. As is customary, post-Budget tax forecasts for 2010 and later years will be published on Budget day, 9 December.