Vol. 513 No. 1
365 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the moneys received in 1999 by way of tobacco taxes; the additional sum received in December 1999 as a consequence of the 50p increase imposed in the December 1999 budget; the estimated sum which will be received from tobacco taxes in 2000; and if it has been revised since budget day. [1763/00]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the receipts for last year have not yet been finalised.
The money received in 1999, by way of tobacco taxes, are estimated to total £859 million, rather more than was initially expected.
This amount includes the effect of consumption by purchasers from Northern Ireland, who were taking advantage of lower prices in the Republic, an additional £3 million received in December as a consequence of the 50p increase which I introduced in the December 1999 budget beginning to apply, and an amount of anticipatory pre-budget stocking up by smokers speculating on a budget increase.
The projected yield from tobacco taxes included in the budget estimate for the year 2000 is £977 million. A revision of that estimate has not been considered necessary to date in the light of the information available.
