Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the year by year cost since 2005 to date analysed by sports code, rugby, soccer, golf, GAA and horse racing, of tax rebates and refunds to retired sports persons and professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3652/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that information on the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the tax relief on retirement for qualifying sportspersons is set out in the following table for the income tax years 2005 to 2009 inclusive. 2009 is the latest year for which the necessary detailed data is available.

Retirement relief for Qualifying Sportspersons

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that information on tax relief on retirement for qualifying sportspersons is not captured in such a way as to provide a basis for compiling a breakdown of the estimated cost of the relief by reference to sports code. Even if such a breakdown was available the obligation of the Revenue Commissioners to observe confidentiality in relation to the tax affairs of individual taxpayers or small groups of taxpayers would preclude them from providing it.