Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Finance in the Budget 2013, if he plans any changes to the Universal Social Charge for Deeds of Covenant as it relates to permanently incapacitated minors, in order to remove them from liability to pay the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50075/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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It is also a long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money that was collected from the Universal Social Charge from Deeds of Covenant in respect of permanently incapacitated minors in 2011 and to date 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50076/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The position is that both income tax and Universal Social Charge (USC) are chargeable where a permanently incapacitated minor child is in receipt of income by virtue of a deed of covenant from a person who is not his or her parent. The income is chargeable to tax and USC in the hands of the recipient. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that information on the yield of USC from the income source mentioned in the question is not separately identified in Revenue statistics. There is, therefore, no statistical basis on which the information requested by the Deputy could be provided.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he will itemise the way the money collected from the Universal Social Charge is used; if it entitles person's to specific benefits and entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50077/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Universal Social Charge (USC) was introduced in Budget 2011 to replace the Income Levy and Health Levy. It was a necessary measure to widen the tax base, remove poverty traps and raise revenue to reduce the budget deficit. USC receipts form part of income tax and are paid into the Central Fund. They are therefore available, along with other sources of tax revenue, non-tax revenue and capital receipts as well as the funds sourced from borrowing, to fund overall Exchequer expenditure.

Individuals that are subject to the USC charge do not accumulate entitlements or specific benefits but do benefit from the services provided by the State.