asked the Minister for Finance the amount of income tax paid by (a) single, (b) widowed and (c) married persons in the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Payments.
47.
Particulars relating to income tax paid are not recorded in such a manner as would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be given.
How then was the Minister able, on the Finance Bill, to quote figures for single persons and if he knew the single persons why does he not know the other figures asked for or if he does not know the single persons was he again just chancing his arm?
Is the Deputy talking about the numbers of single taxpayers?
Yes.
That is the next question.
No, Sir, because if the Minister knew exactly and was able to give the amount which was involved for single persons surely he knew that amount then and if he did why can he not repeat it now?
At no stage have I ever given the figure of the total amount of tax paid by single persons. I have not given that and that is what the Deputy has asked for.
Lest the Minister should say I am putting words in his mouth, I shall have to find the reference and repeat the question.
48.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of (a) single, (b) widowed and (c) married income tax payers in the State.
On the basis of the latest information available it is estimated that the number of individuals effectively liable to income tax for 1970-71 is 630,000. Of these, it is estimated that approximately 435,000 were single persons, 20,000 were widowed persons and 175,000 were married persons.
Is the Minister aware that the figure which he has given for single persons differs from the one which he quoted last week in this House and which the present Taoiseach quoted when he was answering for the previous Minister during his little bit of trouble after falling off the horse.
I am not so aware.
Look up what you said and you will find out.
Perhaps the Deputy would look it up and point it out to me.
I propose to do that at the earliest opportunity.
That would be a change.
It would not. I do it all the time.
The ombudsman.