Written Answers Nos. 141-63
141. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of Intreo case workers employed to deal with customers between 16 and 25 years of age; the cost to the State of every case worker; the number of cases each case worker is assigned; if all offices have been converted to Intreo offices; and if not, which offices are remaining. [44231/15]
View answerAt the end of October 2015, the total number of Case Officers (whole-time equivalents), including vacancies, stood at 554. The number of Case Officers assigned to a given area is kept under review in the context of local demand for services.
Case Officers provide activation and case management services to a range of clients, including jobseekers under 25 years of age. The number of clients assigned to an individual Case Officer will vary according to local circumstances and activities. As newly unemployed Jobseekers are a priority cohort for activation and case management, local inflow to the Live Register is a key factor in relation to the numbers of such clients requiring referral to individual Case Officers. Unemployed jobseekers aged under 25 also have access to dedicated measures, such as JobsPlus Youth (recruitment subsidy) and First Steps Youth Developmental Internship.
The vast majority of Case Officers are Higher Executive Officers. The figure used by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the annual cost of a whole-time Higher Executive Officer (including pensions, PRSI and overheads) is currently €74,447.
All but five INTREO locations have been completed by the Office of Public Works. The five pending completion are Carrigaline, Thurles, Letterkenny, Edenderry and Navan. Of these, all but Navan are scheduled for completion by year end, with planned “go-live” in the New Year.
142. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow, if the person will be given credits for the period of illness while not in employment and if the person is entitled to another benefit due to being unemployed and confined to home. [44249/15]
View answerIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year, and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was received in my department on 26 Aug 2015. This claim was disallowed as the person concerned did not satisfy the above contribution criteria. The person concerned was notified of this decision.
However following a review of the claim it has been decided to award credits for the period 8 March 2013 to 21 Sept 2013. In view of this the person concerned now has an entitlement to illness benefit from 11 Aug 2015 at the graduated weekly rate of €147.30 based on earnings of €265.43 in 2013.
The person concerned was in receipt of jobseekers benefit prior to their illness benefit application and as such it is necessary to close off that payment in advance of payment of illness benefit. This has now been done.
Illness benefit payment will issue to the bank account of the person concerned this week.
143. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44251/15]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 13 November 2015. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
144. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total cost to her Department, and those under her aegis, for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44578/15]
View answerThe following table sets out the total cost to the Department for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015, including legal costs awarded against the Department.
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
1,121,000 |
|
2012 |
236,000 |
|
2013 |
407,000 |
|
2014 |
668,000 |
|
2015 to date |
610,381 |
|
Total: |
€3,042,381 |
Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board, and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The costs of legal services in these statutory bodies from 2011 to 2015 are set out in the following tables:
The Pensions Ombudsman:
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
76,462 |
|
2012 |
111,945 |
|
2013 |
146,207 |
|
2014 |
225,262 |
|
2015 to date |
205,977 |
|
Total: |
€765,853 |
The Pensions Authority:
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
373,000 |
|
2012 |
371,000 |
|
2013 |
78,000 |
|
2014 |
42,000 |
|
2015 to date |
54,000 |
|
Total: |
€918,000 |
Citizens Information Board:
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
7,108 |
|
2012 |
33,797 |
|
2013 |
74,543 |
|
2014 |
2,151 |
|
2015 to date |
40,591 |
|
Total: |
€158,190 |
There were no legal fees paid in respect of the Social Welfare Tribunal from 2011 to 2015.
145. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance if he will implement a scheme whereby a tax credit of €620 per hectare per year will be given on special protection area hen harrier designated land, applied where land has lost its total value, due to the Forest Service not issuing any further afforestation licences within the six breeding hen harriers special protection areas, to ensure that in a sale situation, it would sell at a price similar to a land sale for forestry value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43912/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the State has obligations to protect the habitat of the hen harrier and the EU Birds Directive (Council Directive 2009/147/EC on the Conservation of wild Birds) provides for the classification of Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Under Article 4 of the Directive, six SPAs covering a total land area of c1,671 Square Kilometres has been classified for the conservation of the hen harrier.
A previous Farmland Birds Scheme operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht paid out €3.5m annually. In addition, farmers who joined the Green Local Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) were entitled to earn up to €7,000 under a combination GLAS and GLAS plus. However, in October of this year my colleague Minister Coveney announced a new scheme to be developed under the Locally-Led Agri-Environment Schemes. This scheme, when it is approved by the EU Commission, is expected to provide for payments for up to €23m which represents a major increase in public funding for the important conservation action being undertaken by farmers.
The proposal to grant a tax credit can only be of benefit to those individuals who have a tax liability. An individual with no liability would not benefit from such a proposal. It is considered that any State benefit for persons affected by the EU Birds Directive should not be applied selectively and the proposals being developed by Minister Coveney provide a more equitable solution and can have application to all persons affected by the Directive.
146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance the options open to lone parents who have been reclassified as jobseekers who can no longer pay their local property tax weekly, owing to the temporary nature of the jobseeker payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43531/15]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) provides a wide range of payment and phased payment options that allow property owners to meet their Local Property Tax (LPT) obligations in a manner that best suits individual circumstances.
One of the available phased payment options is Deduction at Source from ten separate payment schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). However deductions are not taken from Jobseekers Allowance as the temporary and intermittent nature of the allowance could result in shortfalls in the amount of LPT deducted leaving property owners with outstanding liabilities at year-end.
In cases where LPT cannot be deducted from DSP payments, there are other phased payment options available to assist property owners in spreading the liability over the course of the year. These options include monthly Direct Debits through banks and certain credit union accounts and flexible payments through four approved Payment Service Providers including An Post, Payzone, Omnivend and PayPoint. Each of these service providers applies various transaction charges that are outside of Revenue's control.
Also, Part 12 of the LPT Act provides for 'Deferral', and 'Partial Deferral' (50%) schemes that may apply to property owners under certain conditions including, 'Income Level', 'Hardship', 'Personal Insolvency' and 'Personal Representative of a Deceased Person'. The income thresholds for a full deferral are €15,000 (single person) per annum and €25,000 (couple) per annum and for a partial deferral are €25,000 (single person) per annum or €35,000 (couple) per annum. These thresholds can also be increased by 80% of any gross mortgage interest payments. However, 'Deferral' and 'Partial Deferral' are not exemptions and the tax becomes payable at a later date and carries an annual interest rate of 4%.
Finally, any property owners who are no longer making LPT payments by Deduction at Source from their DSP payments or, who wish to apply for a 'Deferral' or 'Partial Deferral', can access their records online at www.revenue.ie and amend the payment instruction as required. Alternatively they can contact the LPT Helpline at 1890200255 where an agent will confirm any balances due and assist with making alternative payment arrangements, including Deferral/Partial Deferral as necessary.
147. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if a tax is being introduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43591/15]
View answerIn general, the regulation of compliance with the rules of the road, including such compliance by cyclists, does not come under the responsibility of my Department. I have no plans regarding the introduction of new tax measures relating to cycling.
148. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the number of meetings requested by private external lobby groups and the number of meetings held, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43599/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that in view of my remit as Minister for Finance, I receive a large volume of requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including private individuals, companies, and local and voluntary groups. My Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings.
Since the beginning of the year I have attended approximately 600 meetings, inclusive of all diary engagements.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides for the establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible register of lobbying. The purpose of the register is to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with Designated Public Officials. Under the Act, lobbyists who have registered with the Standards Commission must, by 21 January 2016, have provided the Standards Commission on lobbying activities engaged in during the period 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015. The register can be accessed at http://www.lobbying.ie.
149. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his Department's photography costs since he came into office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance, by year, in tabular form; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the costs associated with each occasion; the policy in place regarding the booking of photographers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43631/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the total photography costs for my Department and the details of the occasions on which photographers were used in the period since I came into office are contained in the following table:
Photography Costs
|
Year |
List of Occasions |
Photographer Used |
Cost € |
|
2011 |
Signing of Taxation agreement with Germany Engaged on 31st March, 2011 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
400.21 |
|
2012 |
Signing ceremony for Double Taxation Agreement with Uzbekistan Engaged on 11th July, 2012 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
147.60 |
|
2012 |
Signing ceremony for Double Taxation Agreement with Switzerland: Minister of State Hayes and the Swiss Ambassador Engaged on 26th January, 2012 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
285.05 |
|
2014 |
Department of Finance graduation ceremony for the Diploma in Taxation Policy and Practice, the Diploma in Project Management, and the Refund of Fees attended by Minister Noonan Engaged on 3rd September, 2014 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
510.75 |
|
2015 |
Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD) award to Department of Finance for "Best Learning and Development Organisation": 2 staff members Engaged on 6th March, 2015 by IITD |
Events Portraits Ltd |
95.75 |
|
2015 |
Department of Finance Learning and Development Recognition of Awards Ceremony, attended by Minister Noonan Engaged on 29th October, 2015 |
Maxwell Photography Ltd |
462.53 |
|
|
TOTAL |
1,901.89 |
The Department's policy regarding the booking of photographers is to follow the relevant public procurement guidelines and procedures.
150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his Department's use of external public relations firms since he came into office by year in tabular form; the uses of these firms and the policy regarding employing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43647/15]
View answerI take it that the Deputy is referring solely to external public relations and not to advertising that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, etc.
The use of external Public Relations firms in respect of my Department in the period since I came into office are outlined in the following table:
|
Year |
Use of external Public Relations Firms |
Public Relations Firm |
|
2015 |
Following the Government decision of 13 May 2015 on mortgage arrears, my Department was asked to coordinate the development and implementation, once approved, of a comprehensive communications strategy around the Government-funded and other available supports for borrowers in arrears, which will advise on the best source of information and advice depending on the requestor s specific circumstances. |
Carr Communications was the successful tenderer following a public procurement exercise. |
The Department's policy regarding employing external groups is to follow the relevant public procurement rules and procedures.
151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the reports he commissioned from external consultants since March 2011, by year, title, cost, date published and company in tabular form. [43663/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Company |
External Consultant Report |
Cost |
Year |
Published |
|
Dr Don Thornhill |
Review of Local Property Tax |
Nil |
2015 |
Published - October 2015 |
|
ESRI |
Tax breaks and the residential property market |
€30,677.43 |
2015 |
Published - October 2015 |
|
IBFD |
Spillover analysis of the effects of the Irish tax system on the economies of developing countries |
€94,678.00 |
2015 |
Published - October 2015 |
|
Indecon |
Review of marine taxation |
€106,887.00 |
2015 |
Published - October 2015 |
|
Red C |
SME Lending Survey May 2015 - October 2015 |
€58,979.00 |
2015 |
Published September 2015** |
|
John Martin |
Assessment of special regeneration areas for the Living City Initiative |
€2,500.00 |
2015 |
Not published. Used as input to the decisions made on the special regeneration areas. The details of these areas were published when the Living City Initiative was launched. |
|
Antaris Consulting |
The provision of a review of the current Health and Safety Arrangements within the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The final objectives are to update the Health and Safety Management Systems within both Departments in order to build on existing Health and Safety culture and practices within both Departments |
€16,113.00 |
2015 |
Work nearing completion. While the Department of Finance is the client the service is being provided to both the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Sector and Reform |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Ltd |
SME Lending Survey November 2014 - April 2015 |
€58,978.50 |
2015 |
Published - April 2015** |
|
Indecon |
Cost benefit analysis of Irish Agri-taxation measures and international benchmark against other Agri-taxation incentives |
€103,689.00 |
2014 |
Published - October 2014 |
|
Seamus Coffey |
Effective rates of corporation tax in Ireland |
€4,900.00 |
2014 |
Published - April 2014 |
|
ESRI |
Importance of tax policy in the location choices of multi-nationals |
€30,750.00 |
2014 |
Published - October 2014 |
|
ESRI |
Research Programme on funding for Small, Medium Enterprises |
€122,833.96 |
2014 |
Published - October 2014 |
|
Ernst & Young |
The historical development and international context of the Irish corporate tax system |
€6,150.00 |
2014 |
Published - October 2014 |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Limited |
SME Lending Survey April-October 2014 |
€58,978.50 |
2014 |
Published - November 2014** |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Limited |
SME Lending Survey October-March 2014 |
€58,978.50 |
2014 |
Published - June 2014** |
|
MKF Property Services |
Review of existing facilities management processes |
€28,720.50 |
2014 |
Published - June 2014 |
|
PMCA Economic Consulting |
Assistance and Analysis in the Preparation of the Medium-Term Economic Strategy 2014-2020 |
€49,043.00 |
2013 |
Final report submitted to the Department of Finance on 6 December 2013. It was not published because it was commissioned to provide evidence-based economic analysis as an input to the MTES. This analysis is reflected in the text of the MTES. |
|
Crowe Horwath |
Report to Department in respect of a survey of R&D Active Companies 2013 |
€36,850.80 |
2013 |
Published |
|
Indecon |
Ex ante cost benefit analysis of proposed Living City Initiative |
€28,290.00 |
2013 |
Published |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Limited |
SME Lending Survey October-March 2013 |
€59,593.50 |
2013 |
Published** |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Limited |
SME Lending Survey April-September 2013 |
€58,978.50 |
2013 |
Published** |
|
Mercer (Ireland) Limited |
Remuneration Review of Covered Institutions |
€146,370.00 |
2013 |
Published |
|
Delotte & Touche |
External Review of the Compilation of General Government Debt Statistics |
€ 61,553.00 |
2012 |
Published |
|
BDO and Amarach |
(a) Survey of audio-visual producers (b) Review on international review of audio-visual state supports |
€64,575.00 |
2012 |
Published |
|
Grant Thornton |
Assessment of Credit Review Office |
€31,807.80 |
2012 |
Published |
|
Mazars |
SME Lending Survey October-March 2012 |
€60,885.00 |
2012 |
Published** |
|
Mazars |
SME Lending Survey April-September 2011 |
€52,453.50 |
2011 |
Published** |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Limited |
SME Lending Survey April-September 2012 |
€61,438.50 |
2012 |
Published** |
|
Charles River Associates |
Acquisition by AIB of EBS Building Society |
€50,000.00 |
2011 |
Published |
**Reimbursed by AIB & Bank of Ireland.
152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the number of special advisers on his staff and their yearly salary, from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43679/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I have two Special Advisors on my staff.
The following table outlines by year the number of Special Advisors I have had and their annual salary for the years 2011-2015.
|
Year |
Total number of my Special Advisors: |
Salary per annum: |
Salary per annum: |
Salary per annum: |
|
2011 |
2 |
€83,337 |
€83,337 |
|
|
2012 |
2 |
€86,604 |
€83,337 |
|
|
2013 |
2 |
€89,898 |
€86,604 |
|
|
2014 |
2 |
€87,258 |
€84,706 |
€78,670 |
|
2015 |
2 |
€87,258 |
€81,676 |
Please note that in 2011 the second of my Advisors did not commence his role as Special Advisor until end of October. In July 2014 one of my Special Advisors commenced a career break and was then replaced, in August 2014.
The salaries of my Special Advisors are in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the appointment of Ministerial staff.
153. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if he will expand the living city initiative to special regeneration areas in county towns such as Ennis in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43712/15]
View answerThe Living City Initiative, which was enacted by Finance Act 2013, and commenced on 5 May 2015, has been extended beyond the original pilot cities of Limerick and Waterford, to include the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny. In line with my Department's commitment to evidence based policy-making, the inclusion of these additional four cities followed consultation with the relevant city councils and a comprehensive, independent ex-ante cost benefit analysis. Specific criteria were set down in respect of the areas which should be included within the remit of the Living City Initiative, which were required to be taken into account by the relevant city councils when putting forward the proposed Special Regeneration Areas for each city.
It is important to note that I do not see this as a wide-spread Initiative and I do not currently intend to extend it further than the six cities. However, I will closely monitor the progress of the Initiative and will keep the matter of any potential extension of it under review.
154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the payments for consultancy services for banking stabilisation measures classified by service provider in each of the years 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Consultancy Services for bank stabilisation |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 (to date) |
|
Arthur Cox |
€1,373,060 |
€2,879,427 |
€1,728,407 |
€824,247 |
€754,202 |
|
Deloitte |
|
|
|
€97,935 |
|
|
Hayes Solicitors |
|
|
|
€6,888 |
|
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
|
|
|
€10,455 |
€18,282 |
|
Matheson |
|
€289,604 |
€717,923 |
€79,950 |
€6,150 |
|
Dr. Anil Shivdasani |
|
|
€82,853 |
|
|
|
Deloitte LLP |
|
|
|
€97,935 |
|
|
William Fry |
|
|
|
€20,664 |
€488,938 |
|
NAMA |
|
|
€23,351 |
€26,632 |
€8,581 |
|
Byrne Wallace |
|
|
|
€6,605 |
|
|
Red C |
€52,454 |
€61,439 |
€118,572 |
€117,957 |
€117,957 |
|
Thomas J Foley |
|
€71,217 |
|
|
|
|
Mazars |
€52,454 |
€60,885 |
|
|
|
|
Aram International Partners |
€121,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles River Associates |
€60,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
David Barniville |
€36,402 |
|
|
|
|
|
Niamh Hyland |
€24,657 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mercer |
|
€73,800 |
€72,570 |
|
|
|
PWC* |
€168,190 |
€85,485 |
|
|
|
*secondments to the Department
155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the effect, in percentage and absolute terms, on the investment component of gross domestic product and the knock-on effect on gross domestic product if the largest single transaction related to intellectual property by a multinational was excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43791/15]
View answerI am informed by the CSO that a large factor behind the increase in investment in the second quarter national accounts this year related to a large acquisition of an intellectual property. However it is important to note that where transactions occur in intellectual property in a particular period, in general the impact on GDP is zero. This is because in the national accounts these investment transactions give rise to an increase in investment, which adds to GDP, as well as an offsetting increase in imports. In contrast, R&D created solely in Ireland will add to GDP in the same period. Of course, acquired intellectual property assets are expected to generate future income streams and increase GDP into the future. In Ireland because of the substantial presence of Multi-National Corporations, transactions of this nature in intellectual property occur frequently enough. It is important to stress that the contribution of this intellectual property transaction to overall investment or imports in the second quarter cannot be calculated with precision with publicly available data. The Deputy will be aware that due to confidentiality reasons the CSO are not in a position to comment on firm specific developments. In fact, the Statistics Act 1993 restricts the use of information supplied to the CSO solely to statistical purposes and prohibits identifying the undertakings which supply this information.
156. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the arrangements in place for persons to pay a compromise sum to the Revenue Commissioners for breach of the regulations regarding mineral oil containing a prescribed marker in their private car, if the payment can be made in instalments, when these provisions came into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43842/15]
View answerThe Revenue Commissioners have responsibility for the collection of mineral oil tax and for tackling illicit trade in mineral oil products. The use of marked mineral oil in the fuel tank of a private car is an offence under Section 102 of the Finance Act 1999. The penalty for this offence, prescribed in Section 102 of the Act, is a fine of €5,000, on summary conviction. Section 130 of the Finance Act 2001 permits the courts to mitigate the amount of the penalty by a maximum of 50% to €2,500.
Under the provisions of Section 1065 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 on mitigation of fines and penalties and in accordance with the care and management provisions relating to mineral oil tax, Revenue may, depending on the circumstances of a case, offer an offender the option of settling a case in lieu of legal proceedings on payment of a compromise penalty. These arrangements have been in place for many years.
Where it is determined that a case is suitable to be dealt with by way of a compromise penalty in lieu of legal proceedings, Revenue will write to the offender indicating that they are disposed to deal with the offence in that way. The letter will specify the details of the detection and the offence, advise the offender of the amount of the compromise penalty and the timescale in which it must be paid (generally within a month). The penalty must be paid in full in a single payment sum for this compromise arrangement to be extended by Revenue.
157. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the additional yield if the excise duty for a publican's licence was increased from €2,535 to €2,825, based on annual turnover between €952,500 to €1,270,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43846/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on the figures set out by the Deputy and on the number of publican licences issued during the period 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015, the additional yield would be €65,540.
158. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the additional yield if the excise duty for a publican's licence was increased from €3,805 to €4,600 based on annual turnover in excess of €1,270,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43847/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on the figures set out by the Deputy and on the number of publican licences issued during the period 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015, the additional yield would be €279,045.
159. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the current arrangements in place by customs and Revenue for the detection of drugs that have been ingested by passengers prior to their arrival at airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43854/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Customs Officers use a range of technologies, indicators and other skillsets to identify drug smugglers, including persons suspected of ingesting controlled drugs. These include the use of detector dog teams, X-ray and other technology on one hand and intelligence development and profiling on the other.
The Commissioners have advised me that they have changed their procedures for dealing with persons suspected of ingesting controlled drugs as a result of two Supreme Court judgements dealing with the right to due process for persons detained. Consequently, Customs Officers are no longer seeking the provision of urine samples on a voluntary basis. No other aspect of the work is impacted by the judgements and Officers are still detecting ingested drugs. Tests involving biological samples have a very high requirement for specialist handling in order to be of value as evidence while protecting the rights of the person concerned. Revenue is satisfied that the present arrangements, which include inter-agency co-operation in appropriate cases, enable good detection rates at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer. They are however continually monitoring the situation and will seek additional powers if they deem this necessary.
Where ingestion of controlled drugs is strongly suspected and cannot be immediately confirmed, there are agreed procedures for the Customs Officer to alert An Garda Siochána, who have extensive detention powers under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
As Minister, I am satisfied with the current arrangements and I will support any additional legislation the Commissioners may seek in the fight against drug trafficking.
160. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of detections of illegal drugs in the west, Border and midlands region in the years 2009 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43855/15]
View answer161. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of full-time and part-time staff within the Customs and Excise section of the Revenue Commissioners who are engaged solely in the detection and investigation of illegal importation of drugs and who are based at sea ports and airports in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43856/15]
View answer162. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff within the Customs and Excise section of the Revenue Commissioners who are detailed to investigate illegal narcotics and the illegal importation of drugs in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43857/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together.
Revenue is a fully integrated tax and customs administration and I am advised by Revenue that it is not possible to disaggregate the resources deployed exclusively at any given time to the detection and investigation of illegal drugs importations. Revenue currently has approximately 2,000 staff countrywide engaged on activities that are dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance. These activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection.
There are currently over 800 Revenue staff serving in the Border, Midlands, West Region, of which approximately 127 are engaged on these activities in the North West area.
Revenue has provided me with the following information in relation to drug detections in the Border Midlands West Region:
BORDER MIDLANDS WEST REGION DRUG SEIZURES
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
474 |
184 |
84 |
73 |
73 |
68 |
56 |
I am advised by Revenue that as part of its risk focused approach to the discharge of its role in this area, harbours and inlets along the coastline are monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis from the point of view of the potential for smuggling. This work is supplemented by Revenue's Customs Drug Watch Programme, which incorporates a Coastal and Airfield reporting mechanism. This allows members of the public, coastal and local maritime communities etc. to notify us in confidence of suspect or unusual movements at sea or around the coast through our confidential 24/7 Drugs Watch free phone facility. Revenue is very active in the area of targeting and combatting drugs smuggling and is committed to playing an active role, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, in working against this criminal activity and those responsible for it.
Revenue has an enforcement presence at all key airports and ports and at other strategic locations throughout the country and place particular emphasis on developing an intelligence-based focus at both national and regional level, deploying resources to areas of highest risk. Enforcement strength at particular locations is regularly augmented with additional personnel on a risk-assessment basis, or when particular operations are taking place against illegal activity.
163. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Number 207 of 1 December 2015, the number of companies which paid €5,000.0001 to €7,500,000, €7,500,001 to €10,000,000, €10,000,001 to €15,000,000, €15,000,001 to €20,000,000, €20,000,001 to €30,000,000, €30,000,001 to €40,000,000, €40,000,001 to €50,000,000 and €50,000,000 plus, and the total amount paid in each band, in corporation tax, in tabular form. [43940/15]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of companies who paid over €5 million in Corporation Tax in certain payment bands is as set out in the following table. As the Revenue Commissioners have an obligation to observe confidentiality in respect of taxpayers' information, and arising from the small numbers of taxpayers involved in certain payment bands requested by the Deputy, some bands requested have been merged.
|
Payment Band € |
Number of Companies |
Amount Paid in 2014 €m |
|
5,000,001-7,500,000 |
44 |
272 |
|
7,500,001-10,000,000 |
21 |
176 |
|
10,000,001-15,000,000 |
28 |
337 |
|
15,000,001-30,000,000 |
25 |
524 |
|
>30,000,000 |
22 |
2,157 |
