Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014
79. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the publishing of data on income distribution from tax data (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48914/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the Revenue Commissioners have proactively reviewed both the content and dissemination methods for their publication of statistical information. They are now providing their most relevant and sought after information in new and more accessible formats on a Statistics webpage: http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/index.html. Whereas previously information was provided by way of static tables in documents, Revenue is now adding to this by making the statistical information available to be queried and downloaded in a range of machine readable formats. This will make it much easier for interested parties and researchers or analysts to access and use Revenue's statistics.
Most statistical material for 2012 was published over the summer and the majority of the information for 2013 has been published in recent weeks. Income distribution information for tax year 2012 was only due to be filed with Revenue in late 2013 and the data have been processed and analysed during 2014. I am advised therefore that income distribution statistics for 2012 will be published shortly on the Commissioners' Statistics website. The information on this webpage will then be updated in due course, as newer data become available, rather than on an annual basis as previously.
I commend the Revenue Commissioners for their initiative in updating their statistical outputs, as increased availability of information will enable better informed research on public policy issues in Ireland, and this also places Revenue at the forefront of the Government's Open Data initiative.
