Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2004
32 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which the provision of Article 11 of the Constitution have been used to exempt revenues of the State from inclusion in one central fund. [12822/04]
View answerThe central fund is provided for under Article 11 of the Constitution which states:
All revenues of the State from whatever source arising shall, subject to such exception as may be provided by law, form one fund, and shall be appropriated for the purposes and in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities determined and imposed by law.
In general, State revenues, including tax revenue, non-tax revenue and Exchequer borrowing, are paid to the central fund, being paid first into accounts, for example, the accounts of the Revenue Commissioners, from which they are transferred to the central fund. However, in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, exceptions have been provided for over the years. Examples of such exceptions, along with the legislation which provides for them, include: appropriations-in-aid, section 2 of the Public Accounts and Charges Act 1891; the social insurance fund, Social Welfare Act 1952; the health levy, Health Contributions Act 1979; the capital services redemption account, Finance Act 1988; the tobacco excise levy, Appropriation Act 1999; the national pension reserve fund, National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000; the national training fund, National Training Fund Act 2000; the horse and greyhound racing fund, Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001; and the environment fund, Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001.
