Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reverse his decision to tax maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13395/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The position is, as I stated in my Budget day speech of 5 December 2012, that from the 1st of July 2013, Maternity Benefit will be treated as taxable income. I have no plans to reverse this decision.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13411/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I previously informed the House in reply to PQ No. 4851 on 31 January 2013 that the Revenue Commissioners had confirmed that some taxpayers will receive their Local Property Tax (LPT) letter electronically via the Revenue Online Service (ROS). I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that this applies to approximately 60,000 ROS customers.

The taxpayers involved have registered with ROS in their personal capacity (that is, not through an agent) and are filing their other tax returns through ROS, a system which is world class and very highly regarded. Instead of sending a letter by post to such taxpayers, the following arrangements will apply:

- An email will be sent to the email address that is associated with the person’s ROS account notifying them that material relating to LPT has been sent to their ROS inbox;

- A letter with information on LPT Return filing will be issued to their ROS inbox. This is effectively the same letter as the one issuing in paper form to other property owners;

- A copy of Revenue’s information booklet on LPT will also be available from their ROS inbox.

I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners that these taxpayers are accustomed to engaging electronically with Revenue on a regular basis and using ROS for paying their tax and filing their tax returns. They will be able to read the relevant LPT letter when it is sent to their ROS inbox. The LPT letter, booklet and the related email, in common with the letters issuing in paper form, will be issuing to these ROS customers in the next four weeks.

I am satisfied that the taxpayers in question will receive exactly the same service electronically as those who will receive a paper letter and consider that it is appropriate, particularly in the context of eGovernment, for the Commissioners to communicate in this manner with taxpayers who are already registered to conduct business with them on line.