Vol. 536 No. 5
173 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to put in place any form of financial support for offshore wind energy projects similar to the supports available to onshore wind energy projects through the alternative energy programme; and the consideration given by him to date to providing offshore wind energy supports such as those available in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden. [14942/01]
Section 62 of the Finance Act, 1998, section 486B of the Taxes Consolidation Act, introduced a new relief for corporate investment in certain renewable energy projects. It was necessary to obtain EU Commission approval for the relief, which took about a year. The relief then commenced on 18 March 1999 and will last until 18 March 2002.
The question of a tax incentive for investment in renewable energy was discussed in some detail in the Seanad on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, 2001. I indicated during this debate that I would give further consideration to incentivising investments in this area. Possible incentives for both onshore and offshore projects will be examined in this connection.
174 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in the tax year 1999/2000 and in 2000/2001 who were in receipt of the first mortgage tax relief; if such figures are broken down on a county and postal district basis; if so, if, in respect of Dublin, he will provide the number of these recipients whose sole or main residence was in Dublin 9; and the specific number of properties involved. [14971/01]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the projected total number of first-time buyer claimants of mortgage interest relief is estimated at almost 109,000 for each of the income tax years 1999-2000 and 2000-01. While this figure is a provisional estimate for both years it is particularly tentative in respect of 2000-01 and should be regarded as an indicative figure only.
An estimated breakdown of the figures on a geographical basis is available on the basis of bailiwick which equates geographically with county while also providing separate breakdowns for city and county in the case of counties Dublin and Cork. By applying the percentage breakdown of returns by bailiwick for the income tax year 1998/1999, the latest available, to the projected number of first-time buyer claimants of mortgage interest relief for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 the number of such claimants is estimated at 34,000 in Dublin city and 14,800 in County Dublin for each of the years in question.
In considering the data it should be borne in mind that the allocation by county of PAYE employees, who represents the bulk of the claimants, is somewhat misleading because each employee is associated in Revenue's computer system with the county in which his or her employer is registered for PAYE purposes, regardless of the address of the actual workplace or of the individual's home address. Self-employed persons are associated on the tax record with the address at which the business is located, which may be different from the home address.
A breakdown of the figures by reference to the properties involved or on postal district basis is not available.
