asked the Minister for Finance the number of income tax payers in Dublin city, Dublin county and Dún Laoghaire.
87.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Statistics.
86.
asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of income excluding income which is allowed for income tax on which tax is charged in Dublin city, Dublin county and Dún Laoghaire.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions 86 and 87 together. Statistics relating to income taxation are not compiled in such a manner as would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be given.
Would the Minister be able to indicate where such figures might be available?
No. I assume the Deputy wants to ascertain for the particular area concerned the number of taxpayers and the income on which they are taxed. The provision of statistics on this basis could be quite misleading. Take, for example, one of the banking groups with their headquarters within that area but which would earn a great deal of their income outside the area. There are many other examples which would indicate that, even if you could get the statistics—which we have not got— the results would be misleading for the purposes for which the Deputy has in mind.
The Minister agrees, though, that it would be possible to obtain the figures, misleading though they might be?
No, not on that basis.
Would they be available on the basis of income tax paid in the Dublin county area, the Dublin city area, the Dún Laoghaire area, for example?
They are not calculated on that basis.
Would it be possible to ascertain the amount of income tax collected from companies and individuals in that area?
It might be possible to produce this on the basis of all tax-payers deemed to have a registered office in the Dublin area. My information seems to suggest that that information is not available. I shall have a look to see if it can be given. Even if it is available, such information could be quite misleading.
But there is a possibility of obtaining it?
My information suggests it is not possible. However, I shall have a look and, if it is possible, I shall communicate with the Deputy.