Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Finance the performance to date of the sugar tax in terms of revenue raised versus predicted revenue and in terms of reduction in sugary drinks being sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4005/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that the provisional receipts from Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) in 2018 are €16.5m. As this was a new tax, forecasting the level of receipts in advance was challenging, but based on the best available information was estimated at €30m. This assumed a commencement date of 1 April 2018. The subsequent 1 May commencement date impacted on the returns filed and payments made. The estimated yield from SSDT in 2019 is provisionally set at €35m.

Finally, the Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of this tax is to change behaviour rather than to raise revenue. As such, the early indications are that the tax is working effectively in reducing the volume of sugar sweetened drinks being consumed in Ireland.