Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of businesses, both individuals and companies, across all sectors that have advised the Revenue Commissioners that they have ceased trading in each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10396/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the following numbers of individuals and companies were recorded as ceased trading during the period requested by the Deputy:

The Commissioners advise that the figures should be treated with some caution as, based on past experience, there tends to be a time lag between date of cessation and notification to Revenue.

I would also refer to my response to the Deputy on PQ 8667/10 of 23 February 2010 in relation to the number of businesses who advised the Revenue Commissioners of ceasing to trade in 2009 and in January 2010. I would like to clarify that the numbers provided in my reply to that question relate to the individuals and companies that were ceased on the records of the Revenue Commissioners during the period requested by the Deputy.

Businesses cease for many reasons, including trading conditions, retirement of the proprietors, death, formation of partnership or incorporation into Limited Company in the case of a sole trader.