Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - Provision of Information.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

205 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the reason an official at the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (details supplied) has refused to supply a public representative (details supplied) with a copy of the list of part-time education courses which are deemed eligible for tax relief; if, in the interest of openness and transparency, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that such information is made available by the Revenue Commissioners to members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14476/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the official who dealt with the public representative advised him that she would be able to inform him if a particular course was on the list. She, however, felt that as all matters relating to the list were the responsibility of the Minister for Education, under the relevant legislation, she was not free to issue it and referred him to the Department of Education.

The Revenue Commissioners now accept that the public representative should have been given a copy of the list. They have confirmed from the Department of Education that it issues copies of the list and that the Department has no objection to the Revenue Commissioners doing likewise. A copy of the list has now been sent to the public representative concerned. The Revenue Commissioners are also arranging that copies of the list will be available to the public in all tax offices.