Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 153: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to improve communication between the Commission for Taxi Regulation and the Revenue Commissioners to stamp out issues of tax evasion, double jobbing and welfare fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9919/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is ongoing and improving communications between the Revenue Commissioners and the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

The recently published Finance Bill contains provisions which, when enacted, will allow for the supply of information held by the Commission for Taxi Regulation to the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed that, following the passing of the Bill, it is the intention to request details of all Small Public Service Vehicle Drivers (SPSV) licence holders from the Commission for Taxi Regulation. This data will then be checked against the Revenue database to ensure that all licence holders actively engaged in working in the taxi business are registered with Revenue. Instances where taxi drivers are not registered will be pursued by Revenue to ensure registration and payment of taxes due. Meetings are planned with a view to progressing the supply of the information.

Quite apart from the supply of information, officials from the Revenue Commissioners and the Commission for Taxi Regulation regularly, and on an ongoing basis, participate in Multi-Agency Checkpoints and operations. These checkpoints and operations are carried out with assistance of An Garda Síochána and regularly also involve officials from the Dept of Social and Family Affairs. These checkpoints and operations involve interviewing taxi drivers at ranks and at checkpoints with a view to ascertaining the compliance of the drivers interviewed with both taxi regulations and tax obligations. Checks are also made to see if the taxi drivers are in receipt of social welfare benefits and appropriate action is taken by all agencies where non-compliance or abuses are discovered.

As a result of these operations, fines have been issued by the Commission for Taxi Regulation; individuals who were not registered for tax or were registered incorrectly have now been registered by Revenue and instances of individuals working and claiming benefits are being investigated by Dept. of Social and Family Affairs.