Vol. 862 No. 1
171. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding persons who are self-employed participating in the back to work scheme; the position regarding eligibility to switch to jobseeker's allowance during slack periods of self-employment under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48267/14]
The Back to Work schemes comprises the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) and the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA). The schemes are designed to assist jobseekers to pursue self-employment options by allowing the retention of all or part of the monetary value of the social welfare payment. The scheme provides support for a two year period with the full value of the social welfare payment being retained in year one and three-quarters in year two. For jobseekers receiving jobseeker’s allowance, the qualifying period is 12 months in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. The STEA provides immediate access to those who have lost their jobs and qualify for jobseekers benefit and wish to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration as their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit.
The BTWEA does not provide for circumstances whereby a customer in receipt of the payment in the second year of their business plan may claim a jobseeker’s payment during periods of low business activity. It is likely that the value of the BTWEA payment and income from self-employment would exceed the value of any jobseekers payment to be made to cover such periods. A customer in receipt of a BTWEA payment can access support for their business venture from the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo centres, local enterprise offices and local development companies.
172. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the means by which a person who is on disability benefit and who is unable to take up employment due to this disability can obtain the qualifying 48 weeks' PAYE credits in the previous tax year, to move to invalidity pension as stipulated by her Department's rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48312/14]
Invalidity pension (IP) is a long-term payment for persons who are permanently incapable of work and who satisfy the social insurance (PRSI) conditions. A total of 260 weeks PRSI paid and 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the relevant date are required to satisfy the PRSI conditions for IP. The reckonable PRSI contribution classes for IP are A, E and H.
Illness benefit (IB) is a short-term payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions. For IB, the reckonable PRSI contribution classes are A, E, H and P. The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which the claim for IB begins. To qualify for payment of IB, a person must have a total of 104 weeks reckonable PRSI paid. In addition, a person must satisfy one of the following:
(a) 39 weeks of reckonable PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions. If the person does not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, they may satisfy the conditions by having 13 paid contributions in either of the two tax years before the relevant tax year OR in the last complete tax year (before the year in which the claim for Illness Benefit begins) OR in the current tax year.
Alternatively,
(b) 26 weeks of reckonable PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
Credited PRSI contributions (credits) are awarded to eligible persons to assist them to maintain continuity of PRSI during periods of incapacity or unemployment. To qualify for a credited PRSI contribution (credit), a person must have worked and paid at least one PRSI contribution at PRSI Class A, B, C, D, E, or H and have paid or credited contributions in either of the last two complete tax years. For example, if a person is unemployed and/or incapable of work in 2014, they must have reckonable paid or credited contributions in either 2013 or 2012 in order to qualify for credits for the period of their incapacity/unemployment. If there is a gap of more than two complete tax years a person must work and pay reckonable contributions for a further 26 weeks before they will qualify for credited contributions. Credits are usually awarded at the same rate as the person’s last paid PRSI contribution e.g. if the person last paid PRSI at Class A, the credit they receive will be reckonable for Class A benefits.
Persons who have an insufficient employment/PRSI record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. For example persons, between the ages of 16 and 66 who are suffering from an illness or disability which is expected to last at least 1 year, may qualify for disability allowance (DA). Disability allowance recipients must be habitually resident in the State.
173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48334/14]
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 4 November 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
174. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Tánaiste agus Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta fós ar na poist agus na réimsí oibre ina mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge ag teastáil, de réir mar a thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe treoir don Roinn a dhéanamh; má tá an t-iniúchadh déanta, cad é líon agus cad iad céimeanna na bpost atá i gceist; cén líon de na poist sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla ann cheana féin; cén plean atá ann chun na poist eile a líonadh le daoine a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [48380/14]
Tá sé beartaithe ag an Roinn tabhairt faoi iniúchadh go luath an bhliain seo chugainn chun na poist shonracha a shainaithint ina dteastaíonn feidhm dhátheangach.
Thug an Roinn faoi shuirbhé chun an fhoireann a shainaithint atá toilteanach agus in ann seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar agus chuir siad bearta i bhfeidhm lena chinntiú go bhfreastalaítear ar aon chustaiméir ar mian leis nó léi a c(h)uid gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge”.
175. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a jobseeker's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48399/14]
The person concerned is a full time student at the University of Limerick. As a mature student he may be entitled to receive a jobseeker's payment for periods between academic years. However he is not entitled to a jobseeker's payment for shorter periods between academic terms such as the Christmas period, the period for which an application was made on the 01/12/2014. An administrative oversight did occur in that a letter issued to the person concerned stating that a jobseeker allowance claim was awarded. The person concerned subsequently called into the Intreo Centre Tallaght and was informed of the error and that he was not entitled to a payment for the period concerned. A subsequent letter has issued to the person concerned informing him of the correct position.
177. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the funding available for supplementary welfare allowances from her Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 and the estimate for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48408/14]
179. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the categories of payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, outlining the number of payments and the amount of payments for each category for 2012, 2013, and to date in 2014; if she will provide an estimate of the amount provided for 2015 under these headings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48424/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides a "safety net" within the overall social welfare system and provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. The types of payment available under the SWA scheme are:
- basic supplementary welfare allowance
- rent supplement
- mortgage interest supplement
- other supplements e.g. heating supplement, travel supplement
- exceptional needs payment (ENP) and urgent needs payments (UNP)
The following tabular statement provides details of expenditure and recipient numbers for SWA schemes from 2012 to 2014 and estimate provision for 2015.
|
Category of Payment |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (End Nov) |
2015 Budget Estimate |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
||||
|
Recipients |
32,358 |
23,127 |
19,510 |
|
|
Expenditure |
€180.3m |
€108.3m |
€109.6m |
€70.2m |
|
Rent Supplement |
||||
|
Recipients |
87,684 |
79,788 |
71,831 |
|
|
Expenditure |
€422.5m |
€372.9m |
€344.1m |
€297.3m |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
||||
|
Recipients |
14,597 |
9,768 |
6,106 |
|
|
Expenditure |
€55.4m |
€35.1m |
€17.9m |
€11.9m |
|
ENPs and UNPs |
||||
|
No of payments |
197,500 |
133,000 |
96,600 |
|
|
Expenditure |
€52.7m |
€35,7m |
€31.3m |
€27.9m |
|
Other Supplements |
||||
|
No of payments |
13,009 |
11,030 |
9,657 |
|
|
Expenditure |
€11.3m |
€9.5m |
€9.8m |
€7.0m |
Notes
(1) 2014 recipient numbers/number of payments refer to position at end of November. 2014 Expenditure figures refer to the Revised Estimate allocation.
(2) In 2015, the Estimate provision for Direct Provision Allowance (€3.5m) is separated from that of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
(3) In 2015, the rent supplement figure represents a reduction in excess of €20 million transferred to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
178. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the refusal of their application for jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48414/14]
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 November 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
181. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the CESI report on activation services commissioned by her Department in 2012; the procurement process the publication could impact upon; and when this is due to be completed. [48454/14]
The Pathways to Work policy statement provided for more regular and on-going engagement with jobseekers to enable them to return to employment through the provision of the most appropriate support interventions. In order to increase its activation capacity the Department examined approaches to complementing and augmenting its own internal capacity and that already provided under existing contracts with the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers. In this regard, the Department engaged the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CESI) in 2012 to provide expert advice and assistance with the design, including financial modelling, of a contracted, payment by results, employment service model. It is not intended to publish this report as its contents are commercially sensitive and to do so may disadvantage the State in negotiations with current and potential providers.
The CESI report informed the design of JobPath. Following a procurement process conducted in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules, preferred tenderers have been selected for the provision of the JobPath programme. The preferred tenderers are Seetec Business Technology Centre Limited and Turas Nua Limited. The Department is currently in the process of finalising contracts with the preferred tenderers and it is expected that the JobPath programme will commence in mid-2015.
184. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of public sector workers under the aegis of her Department who have been approved for inter or intradepartmental or agency work transfers, both to and from County Waterford, in each of the past five years. [48811/14]
The Agencies that operate under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. These organisations are all Dublin based.
Details of staff that have transferred to and from my Department’s offices in Waterford in each of the past five years are shown in the table.
|
Year |
To DSP Waterford |
From DSP Waterford |
|
2010 |
4 |
Nil |
|
2011 |
3 |
Nil |
|
2012 |
2 |
1 |
|
2013 |
4 |
4 |
|
2014 |
1 |
1 |
185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he will meet representatives of the Phoenix Project, an organisation based in Portlaoise, County Laois that works with distressed borrowers on a voluntary basis, in view of their continual requests for a meeting to explain the challenges persons are facing every day due to unsustainable borrowings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47703/14]
At the outset I should say that the Government has introduced a comprehensive Strategy to address the problem of mortgage arrears based on recommendations stemming from the Interdepartmental working group on Mortgage arrears (The Keane Report) encompassing the following
1. personal insolvency reform,
2. the introduction of an advice and guidance service for those experiencing serious debt issues,
3. the introduction of a mortgage to rent scheme to enable eligible borrowers to remain in their home and
4. engagement with banks on the provision of sustainable mortgage solutions.
The Cabinet sub-Committee on Construction 2020, Housing Planning and Mortgage Arrears, chaired by An Taoiseach, oversees the implementation of the Government's mortgage arrears strategy. At official level, there is also the mortgage arrears steering group, chaired by a senior official in my Department.
The Government continuously monitors the situation in respect of mortgage arrears, through the quarterly data published by the Central Bank of Ireland and the monthly mortgage restructures data published by my own Department. It is gratifying to note in the Central Bank statistical release for Quarter three of this year that the number of mortgage accounts for principal dwelling houses (PDH) in arrears continued to fall, marking the fifth consecutive quarterly decline. PDH mortgage accounts in arrears over ninety days also continued to fall during quarter three. The number of PDH accounts in arrears over 720 days continues to be a concern, although it is a hopeful sign to note that the increase in the number of accounts in this category for Q3 was the lowest increase recorded in this category to date.
I believe that the Government's mortgage arrears strategy provides strong protection for cooperating borrowers. The Central Bank continues to engage with all mortgage lenders in relation to lenders' mortgage arrears resolution strategies and approaches to dealing with borrowers in, or facing, arrears. Early and effective engagement between borrowers and lenders is key to resolving the majority of cases of mortgage difficulty.
With regard to the Deputy's reference to continual requests for a meeting from the Phoenix Project, according to my records, all correspondence was responded to and senior officials from my Department have met with Phoenix Project representatives in the past. With regard to the question of my meeting representatives of the Phoenix Project in the future, it is standard practice for such requests to be directed in the first instance to my Office in the Department of Finance, where such requests will be reviewed in the context of my Parliamentary and Ministerial commitments.
186. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the penalties for crimes associated with illegal and counterfeit tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47764/14]
187. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views that more stringent legislation is required to deal with illegal and counterfeit tobacco crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47766/14]
188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the value of seized counterfeit and illegal tobacco products in the State in the past five years; his views that this will increase due to the introduction of plain packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/14]
199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on the dangers posed by counterfeit and illegal cigarettes becoming more prominent on the market due to plain packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47760/14]
200. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of lost State revenue per annum due to illegal and counterfeit tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47761/14]
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the number of scanners in place in the Irish sea ports and airports to tackle the illegal importation of counterfeit and illegal tobacco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47762/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 188, inclusive, and 199 to 201, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the quantities of illicit cigarettes and other tobacco products seized in each of the years 2009 to 2013 and in 2014 to the end of October, and the estimated retail value of those products, are set out in the following table.
|
- |
Cigarettes |
- |
- |
Tobacco |
- |
|
Year |
Quantity (Million) |
Value (€ Million) |
|
Quantity (Kgs) |
Value (€ Million) |
|
2009 |
218.5 |
92 |
|
10451 |
3.7 |
|
2010 |
178.4 |
75.2 |
|
3367 |
1.2 |
|
2011 |
109.1 |
46 |
|
11158 |
4 |
|
2012 |
95.6 |
43.3 |
|
5277 |
1.95 |
|
2013 |
40.8 |
18.9 |
|
4203 |
1.7 |
|
2014 (end Oct) |
50.6 |
24.05 |
|
9559 |
4.09 |
The Deputy will appreciate that estimating the scale of any illegal activity, and the tax loss to which it gives rise, is necessarily difficult and that estimates of such loss need to be viewed with caution. The extent of the illegal trade in cigarettes is estimated through annual surveys of smokers that are carried out for them and for the National Tobacco Control Office of the Health Service Executive by Ipsos MRBI. The 2013 survey indicated that some 11% of cigarettes consumed were illicit. This represents a loss of some €212 million to the exchequer in excise duty and VAT, assuming that the illegal cigarettes consumed displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantities of cigarettes. A further survey in respect of 2014 is underway and it is expected that the results will be available towards the end of the first quarter of 2015.
A separate and smaller-scale survey on "roll your own" tobacco conducted by Ipsos MRBI last year found that 15% of tobacco packets held by the smokers surveyed were illegal. On that basis, it is estimated that the loss to the exchequer would be in the order of some €17 million.
The penalties for smuggling tobacco products are laid down in section 119 of the Finance Act 2001. Section 78 of the Finance Act 2005 provides for penalties for the illegal sale of unstamped tobacco products while section 78A of that Act contains penalties in relation to the illicit production of tobacco products. On conviction following summary prosecution for any of these offences, a court may impose a fine of €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both a fine and imprisonment. A fine of up to €126,970 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, or both a fine and imprisonment, may be imposed on conviction following a prosecution on indictment. Section 119 of the Finance Act 2001 provides also that, where the value of the goods concerned (inclusive of any tax or duty payable on them) is greater than €250,000, a fine of an amount not exceeding three times their value may be imposed.
The specific penalty to be imposed in any particular case is a matter for the courts. Section 130(2) of the Finance Act 2001 permits a trial judge, in his or her discretion, to mitigate a fine or penalty incurred for an offence under excise law, provided that the amount mitigated is not greater than 50 per cent of the amount of the fine or penalty.
The penalties for summary and indictable offences in relation to tobacco smuggling and illegal selling were increased significantly in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Fines for summary offences are set at the maximum level that may be applied by the District Court. There are no proposals for further penalty increases at present, but the position is kept under review.
I wish to inform the Deputy also that a number of legal provisions have been introduced in recent years to further strengthen Revenue's response to the illegal tobacco trade.
The Finance Act 2012 clarified the legal basis for Revenue officers to open and examine the contents of postal and courier packets that are reasonably believed to contain untaxed excise products. The Finance Act 2013 introduced new offences and forfeiture measures relating to the illicit production of tobacco, including offences for involvement with illicit tobacco production, knowingly dealing in or delivering any illicit tobacco product and keeping materials and equipment for the purposes of illicit production. Provision was made also for the forfeiture of any equipment or materials, including unmanufactured tobacco, used for illicit production. That Act also strengthened the offence provisions relating to the sale or delivery of unstamped tobacco products. The Finance (No. 2) Act 2013 provided that a person suspected of an offence of dealing in, or with, unstamped tobacco products must provide information to a Revenue Officer or a Garda and may be required to present any tobacco product concerned for examination, and makes provision for search by a Revenue officer or a member of An Garda Síochána of any bag or other receptacle that he or she reasonably believes to contain tobacco products that are concerned in the offence.
As well as those changes to primary law, I introduced a quantitative restriction, with effect from 1 January 2014, on the number of cigarettes that may be brought into the State for personal use by individuals travelling from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. The Excise Duty on Cigarettes (Quantitative Restrictions) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 553 of 2013) provides that the number of tax-paid cigarettes that may be brought into Ireland for personal use by individuals travelling from those Member States, without payment of further excise duty in Ireland, is restricted to 300. Anyone with cigarettes in excess of that quantity must declare them to a Revenue Officer and pay the appropriate excise duty. This restriction will remain in place until 31 December 2017 or until such time as the particular Member State has achieved the required EU minimum tax levels, whichever is the earlier.
I am satisfied that the legislative framework as it now stands, and the penalties that apply in respect of tobacco related offences, provide an effective basis for action by Revenue against the illegal tobacco trade. Nonetheless, the position will be kept under review and I am committed to responding positively to any proposals for additional measures that might assist the Revenue Commissioners in that regard.
Revenue relies on the tobacco tax stamp to identify tax-paid tobacco products and this will continue following the introduction of standardised packaging. The standardised packaging legislation will accommodate the tax stamp and Revenue expects that the new packaging rules will ensure effective security features to make counterfeiting very difficult. The tobacco tax stamp has, itself, a range of sophisticated security features to minimise the risk of counterfeiting. I am advised that Revenue's view is that the introduction of standardised packaging will not affect their work against the illicit trade in tobacco products.
Revenue currently has three mobile scanner systems. Two of these are mobile x-ray container scanning systems that are based at Dublin Port and Rosslare Ferry Port respectively. Both of these scanners are available for deployment at other ports, and at other locations such as warehouses, as required, and Revenue uses them, on a risk assessment basis, at various locations throughout the country. The other mobile scanning system is a scanner van, a specialist vehicle incorporating an x-ray facility and radiation detection facilities. It is used for monitoring baggage and cargo at airports for narcotics, tobacco products, radioactive materials and other contraband. It also allows Revenue officers to carry out control actions at other locations such as warehouses and courier depots.
The mobile scanner systems are complemented by static baggage and parcel scanners at all major ports, airports and postal depots.
Revenue continuously reviews its detection technology requirements, taking account of developments in those technologies, and has availed of part-funding under the European Union's Hercule programme to acquire new or replacement equipment of this kind. I understand that Revenue is generally satisfied with the current scanning capabilities and consider that the container ports are adequately serviced by the two mobile x-ray container scanning systems. I am advised also that the performance of the scanner van has been evaluated on an ongoing basis since its acquisition, and that the possibility of augmenting this resource with additional units is currently being considered.
189. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the number of electricity-powered vehicles that have been registered, by county, in each of the past five years. [47978/14]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that electricity powered vehicles can refer to electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The table schedules the number of registrations of these categories by county for each of the years 2010 to the end of November 2014.
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
To end November 2014 |
|
|
Cork |
Electric |
11 |
7 |
16 |
7 |
29 |
|
|
Hybrid |
156 |
109 |
111 |
104 |
106 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Clare |
Electric |
2 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Hybrid |
20 |
12 |
15 |
14 |
20 |
|
Cavan |
Electric |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
|
Hybrid |
2 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
3 |
1 |
|||
|
Carlow |
Electric |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
6 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
|
Dublin |
Electric |
73 |
72 |
110 |
41 |
120 |
|
|
Hybrid |
609 |
345 |
441 |
623 |
817 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
2 |
28 |
|||
|
Donegal |
Electric |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
|
Hybrid |
10 |
8 |
14 |
37 |
38 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
2 |
||||
|
Galway |
Electric |
3 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
14 |
|
|
Hybrid |
57 |
46 |
40 |
54 |
71 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Kildare |
Electric |
2 |
3 |
11 |
6 |
19 |
|
|
Hybrid |
50 |
41 |
31 |
43 |
46 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Kilkenny |
Electric |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
|
Hybrid |
18 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
|
Kerry |
Electric |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
21 |
12 |
16 |
15 |
17 |
|
Limerick |
Electric |
1 |
4 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
30 |
16 |
16 |
30 |
35 |
|
Longford |
Electric |
1 |
||||
|
|
Hybrid |
8 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
Louth |
Electric |
3 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
38 |
12 |
21 |
17 |
21 |
|
Leitrim |
Electric |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
|
Hybrid |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
Laois |
Electric |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Hybrid |
10 |
11 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
|
Meath |
Electric |
1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
22 |
|
|
Hybrid |
47 |
23 |
17 |
17 |
31 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
3 |
||||
|
Monaghan |
Electric |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
|
Hybrid |
6 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Mayo |
Electric |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
|
Hybrid |
17 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
14 |
|
Offaly |
Electric |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
11 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
15 |
|
Roscommon |
Electric |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
|
Hybrid |
5 |
1 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
|
Sligo |
Electric |
2 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
|
Hybrid |
13 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
13 |
|
Tipperary |
Electric |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
18 |
14 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Waterford |
Electric |
1 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
Hybrid |
20 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
Electric |
2 |
14 |
2 |
||
|
|
Hybrid |
19 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
26 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
2 |
||||
|
Wicklow |
Electric |
9 |
11 |
1 |
21 |
|
|
|
Hybrid |
47 |
18 |
22 |
39 |
40 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
||||
|
Wexford |
Electric |
5 |
2 |
9 |
||
|
|
Hybrid |
26 |
12 |
20 |
17 |
26 |
|
|
Plug-in Hybrid Electric |
1 |
1 |
190. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of County Waterford companies or persons that have availed of the seed capital scheme since the start of 2011; and the cumulative amount of income tax claimed under the scheme over that period. [48315/14]
192. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of investors or companies based in County Waterford that have availed of the employment and investment incentive scheme over the past four years; and the overall amount of relief claimed during that period. [48318/14]
194. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies and persons based in County Waterford that have successfully taken up the Revenue Commissioners' job assist scheme in the past three years. [48321/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 192 and 194 together.
The overall costs of the various schemes requested by the Deputy are published on the Revenue Commissioners Statistics webpage at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/index.html, under the files headed "Costs of Credits, Allowances and Reliefs". Costs are published up to tax year 2012 (the most recent currently available) and will be updated in due course.
In relation to the Seed Capital Scheme, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their obligation to observe confidentiality for taxpayers and the relatively small number of taxpayers involved precludes them from providing the information requested.
In relation to the Employment and Investment Incentive, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that claims for the relief in question are not captured in such a way as to provide a basis for compiling the information sought on a county basis.
In relation to the Revenue Job Assist Scheme, the numbers availing in County Waterford are 13, 40 and 42 for 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. The Deputy will be aware that this scheme has ceased for new claimants and that it has been replaced by the JobsPlus scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection.
It should be noted that, where available, county level breakdowns require a degree of estimation and may be subject to change.
191. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of County Waterford companies or persons who have availed of the three-year corporate tax exemption since the start of 2011; and the cumulative amount of tax relief for new start-ups claimed over that period. [48316/14]
193. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies or persons based in County Waterford who have successfully applied for the accelerated capital allowance in the past four years; and the cumulative tax relief granted to County Waterford applicants for energy efficient equipment over that period. [48320/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 193 together.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the overall costs of the various schemes requested by the Deputy are published on the Commissioners' Statistics webpage at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/index.html, under the files headed "Costs of Credits, Allowances and Reliefs". Costs are published up to tax year 2012 (the most recent currently available) and will be updated in due course.
In relation to figures for these schemes for Waterford, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners as follows:
- For the scheme of accelerated capital allowances for energy efficient equipment, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their obligation to observe confidentiality for taxpayers and the relatively small number of taxpayers involved precludes them from providing the information requested.
- For the 3-year corporation tax exemption for start-up companies, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that 39 companies availed of relief (at a cost of €0.2 million) in 2011 and 37 (at a cost of €0.2 million) in 2012 in County Waterford.
It should be noted that, where available, county level breakdowns require a degree of estimation and may be subject to change.
