Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Revenue Debt Collection Costs.

Seán Doherty

Question:

156 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the fees paid to two private firms of solicitors (details supplied) for particular work done by the Revenue Commissioners in the collection of revenue debt from 1988 to 1998. [12741/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The total payments made to the two firms retained for the purposes of debt collection in the years in question were as shown in the table following. The figure for 1988 is estimated from the total amount of expenditure on all forms of debt collection in that year. The total paid in 1998 up to 31 March is £333,688.

	£
1988	1,496,000 (est.)
1989	1,450,204
1990	1,384,373
1991	1,371,717
1992	1,385,146
1993	1,371,360
1994	1,049,973
1995	999,643
1996	861,490
1997	860,029

It should be noted that these figures comprise reimbursement of outlays, professional fees, commission on amounts collected and VAT.

The reduction in recent years results from improved targeting of activity and the use of alternative means of pursuit where this was more cost effective.

The work carried out by the two firms of solicitors is specialised work relating to the collection of Revenue debt. The use of external solicitors has proved to be a very effective method of dealing with debt collection work in the District and Circuit Courts. The Office of the Revenue Solicitor handles most debt collection work at High Court level.