asked the Minister for Finance to communicate yearly to each taxpayer a simple statement, similar to that which formerly appeared on rates demands in Dublin City, showing £1 of revenue broken down in proportion to the principal individual categories of expenditure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue Expenditure Headings.
7.
Information on the breakdown of Government expenditure into the main categories is set out each year in the pre-budget tables and in the budget booklet. I do not think that the cost of communicating this information separately to each taxpayer would be justified.
Again, I hope the Minister will recognise that this question was not put down in a contentious spirit but with the intention that the people would be brought to realise the cost of the services they demand. In inviting the comparison with the system used in rates demands I was suggesting that in the kind of communication which the Revenue Commissioners sent to every taxpayer anyway——
A question, please.
——that might be included as showing a simple breakdown of State expenditure in terms of pennies in the £, as in a rates demand. It would cost nothing.
I do not disagree with the Deputy's contention. I think that what he has in mind is that the Revenue Commissioners would communicate this to all income tax payers. Of course, a whole lot of people who are taxpayers are not income tax payers. His question relates to taxpayers. In so far as it relates to income tax payers it is true that the Revenue Commissioners have direct communication with income tax payers. I will bear the Deputy's suggestion in mind in relation to income tax payers.
They have communication with VAT payers as well.
Not directly. The bulk of VAT is paid by customers in shops and so on. It is the people who are ultimately paying it that the Deputy has in mind.