Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
254 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an updated monthly profile of projected Exchequer receipts and expenditures consistent with the budgetary projections in the revised stability programme. [4777/09]
View answerMonthly profiles of projected receipts and expenditure are normally published by the end of January every year. However, this year, reflecting the fact that the tax forecasts were revised at the start of January, the publication of tax revenue profiles has been delayed. I expect my Department to publish these tax profiles shortly.
In relation to projected Exchequer expenditures, the intention is to produce a monthly profile consistent with the revised budgetary projections and with the allocations to be presented in the 2009 Revised Estimates Volume, by the end of this month.
256 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the annual return to the Exchequer from stamp duty on cheques in each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; the rates applying in each of these years; the dates on which increases came into effect; if a pattern of reduced usage of cheques has shown over the years cited or against previous years; if so, when the peak years were; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4788/09]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the net receipt in the years 2005 to 2008 from stamp duty on cheques issued by financial institutions is as follows:
|
Year |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Net Receipt from Cheques |
16.5 |
16.7 |
18.6 |
30.5 |
The rate of stamp duty on cheques which applied in each year is as follows:
|
Year |
Rate |
|
2005 |
15c per cheque |
|
2006 |
15c per cheque |
|
2007 |
15c per cheque up to 6 December, and 30c thereafter |
|
2008 |
30c per cheque up to 15 October, and 50c thereafter |
As regards the pattern in the usage of cheques the Deputy may wish to note the following statistics (derived from information from the European Central Bank) showing the numbers of cheques processed by financial institutions for payment transactions in Ireland during the years 2003-2007. The figures are expressed in terms of millions of cheques.
|
Year |
Payment Transactions (millions of cheques) |
|
2003 |
73.80 |
|
2004 |
72.62 |
|
2005 |
132.14 |
|
2006 |
124.64 |
|
2007 |
124.30 |
On this basis there are indications that, after peaking in 2005, the usage of cheques may be in decline.
