Vol. 492 No. 1
106 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield to the Exchequer from the sales of tobacco products within the State over the next five years; if he will make available the assumptions surrounding these calculations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13427/98]
On the basis of unchanged tax rates applying, the projected yield for the four years 1998 to 2001 for which information is available is as follows: 1998, £731 million; 1999, £727 million; 2000, £716 million and 2001, £705 million. Projections are not available for 2002.
These projections are based on extrapolations from historic consumption trends. They must be regarded as subject to revision in the light of collection performance, trade price increases, any budget tax changes over the period and any developments that discourage smoking.
