Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

258 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxi licence holders who have availed of the arrangements for the drawing down by taxi drivers, who were in possession of taxi plates for which they had paid substantial sums prior to the recent deregulation of the industry, of the tax allowances made available to them as part of the transitional arrangements for the new regime; if the uptake has been in line with his Department's projections and expectations; the expected uptake in the future budgetary periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28720/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics are not compiled in such a manner as would enable details of the number of taxi drivers who availed of the new allowances to be provided. Such information could not be obtained without undertaking an inquiry which could be carried out only at a disproportionate cost.

While I am informed by the Department of the Environment and Local Government that almost 4,000 taxi licences were in issue on the 21 November 2000, the date taxi deregulation was announced, it would be speculative to attempt to determine what the potential uptake in respect of capital allowances for these licences might be. The value of claims for allowances would be dependent on the payment made for such licences, the individual's marginal rate of tax, the amount of qualifying income liable to tax at that rate and the number of licences which qualify for relief, those not used for trading purposes by their owners and exclusively let out would not qualify.