Written Answers Nos 50-54
50. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representation he has made to the Lithuanian authorities in relation to a person (details supplied) who is in prison in Lithuania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21082/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the Embassy of Ireland in Lithuania and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin has provided consular assistance to the person in question since that person’s initial detention in Lithuania. The Embassy is in regular contact with the appropriate Lithuanian authorities in response to questions or matters which have arisen during the period of imprisonment. The person and his next of kin are kept informed of the Embassy’s representations to the Lithuanian authorities on various matters, and the outcomes of these representations.
51. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance if he will look into an administrative error that has arisen in respect of two persons (details supplied) in County Cork who are obliged to pay the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20950/13]
View answerA key aspect of the work undertaken by Revenue for the Local Property Tax (LPT) was the development of a comprehensive Register of residential properties in the State. The Register was developed using data drawn from a range of sources including Revenue’s own databases, the Local Government Management Agency database and data from utility companies. Data from the various sources was cross-checked to ensure that the Register is as accurate as possible and work is still in progress to refine it. I am informed that while every effort has been made to correctly match residential properties to owners, in a small number of cases, some individuals were not included on the register and for that reason did not receive an LPT Return. The possibility of such instances occurring was acknowledged by the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners in public statements that she has made in connection with the issue of LPT Returns.
While it is absolutely regretted that any omissions of this nature should occur, given the scale of the operation involved, there was always a likelihood that this would arise in some instances and I am very satisfied that as part of Revenue’s communications around the general issue of LPT Returns, the Commissioners sought to forewarn taxpayers and they have provided very clear guidance on the steps that should be taken in these cases.
In regard to the specific case, I commend the persons in question for taking the correct action to rectify the Revenue Register details in regard to their property. I have been advised by Revenue that the matters raised by the Deputy have been discussed by Revenue officials with the persons in question and resolved, and the Register has been correctly updated.
52. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of cars taxed in each emissions category for the purposes of VRT and the VRT rate associated with each of these categories for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21037/13]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of cars registered in each emission category for the purposes of VRT and the VRT rate associated with each of these categories for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is as follows: Gross registrations of new cars
|
- |
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
- |
VRT Rate |
New |
New |
New |
New |
|
A1 |
14% |
7,181 |
30,810 |
37,945 |
42,820 |
|
A2 |
16% |
24,925 |
39,986 |
43,359 |
30,508 |
|
A3 |
20% |
11,295 |
9,375 |
4,686 |
3,443 |
|
A4 |
24% |
8,103 |
5,920 |
2,594 |
1,630 |
|
A5 |
28% |
4,190 |
2,046 |
1,021 |
907 |
|
A6 |
32% |
1,340 |
779 |
669 |
536 |
|
A7 |
36% |
303 |
296 |
203 |
30 |
|
Total |
- |
57,337 |
89,212 |
90,477 |
79,874 |
Gross registrations of used cars
|
- |
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
- |
VRT Rate |
Used |
Used |
Used |
Used |
|
A1 |
14% |
2,140 |
3,805 |
5,308 |
6,445 |
|
A2 |
16% |
9,918 |
10,193 |
12,474 |
14,277 |
|
A3 |
20% |
15,507 |
11,909 |
12,229 |
10,658 |
|
A4 |
24% |
9,050 |
6,099 |
5,108 |
4,219 |
|
A5 |
28% |
5,749 |
3,691 |
2,718 |
2,068 |
|
A6 |
32% |
3,527 |
2,367 |
1,556 |
1,200 |
|
A7 |
36% |
3,182 |
2,051 |
1,416 |
1,645 |
|
Total |
- |
49,073 |
40,115 |
40,809 |
40,512 |
53. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to reports that it costs the State 1.65c to create a 1c coin, if he will confirm the unit cost of creating the following specie - 2c, 5c, 10c, 50c, 1 euro and 2 euro. [20862/13]
View answerThe average cost of producing each coin denomination is as follows:
|
Coin denomination |
Unit cost |
|
2c |
2.07c |
|
5c |
3.01c |
|
10c |
5.16c |
|
20c |
6.76c |
|
50c |
8.27c |
|
1 Euro |
9.75c |
|
2 Euro |
14.25c |
In any given year the cost of striking each denomination of coin is dependent upon the total volume and combination of coins produced. It should also be noted that material costs can fluctuate. Economies of scale are an important element in the allocation of costs. In years of high production the average cost of production per coin falls and vice versa.
54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 23 April 2013 and confirmation that the Central Bank of Ireland has engaged BlackRock International to provide the stress-testing of Irish banks in 2013, if he will outline the principal acquisitions of assets in Ireland by BlackRock since the last stress-testing in January-March 2011. [20863/13]
View answerThe Central Bank has advised my Department that they engaged BlackRock Solutions to provide services under the Central Bank’s Financial Measures Programme (FMP) including the Prudential Capital Assessment Review (PCAR). BlackRock Solutions are an advisory firm that is part of the wider BlackRock Group. The Central Bank do not have the information requested in relation to BlackRock International. The Central Bank have told my Department that they observe EU and Irish procurement legislation/ requirements.
