John Gormley
Question:17 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the number of bodies and organisations in operation which enjoy tax exempt status as at 1 December 1998. [27291/98]
Written Answers - Tax Exemptions.
Trevor Sargent
Question:49 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if he will make arrangements for the publication of a compendium of all bodies, organisations and trusts granted tax exempt status since the passage of the Finance Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27292/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 49 together.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of bodies on their records which hold tax exemption as charitably exempt bodies at 1 December 1998 was 6,305. As I informed the House in response to a number of questions asked on 17 November 1998, the Revenue Commissioners commenced a special project earlier this year to identify those charities granted exemption that are no longer in existence. This project continues to detect bodies that have become defunct and the Revenue Commissioners believe that the number of active tax exempt bodies is less than 5,000.
As I also informed the House previously, the Revenue Commissioners intend to make public a list of charitably exempt bodies. The procedure being followed is that bodies which hold exemption are currently being consulted in relation to the publication of this list.
Where an objection is raised by a body to its inclusion on the list the Information Commissioner will determine whether the objection should be upheld. Subject to the outcome of these arrangements the Revenue Commissioners will provide the Deputies with a list of bodies granted exemption since 1967.