Tax revenues for Ireland in the opening seven months of the year came in €500 million ahead of target at €20.3 billion, a performance which is in keeping with the positive trend evident in recent months.
According to new figures from the Department of Finance, the tax take at the end of July was €1.68 billion, or 9 per cent, above the amount collected in the same period last year.
A breakdown of the headline figure shows that income tax, Vat and corporation tax outperformed between January and July, when compared with the same period last year.
However while the tax haul exceeded expectations, the Government also overspent during the seven-month period. Overall exchequer expenditure totalled €25.9 billion at the end of July, which was €216 million above target.
Spending figures are broken down between current (day-to-day) expenditure and capital (investment) expenditure.
Current spending overran by €317 million during the period. This was attributed to a combination of lower-than-expected PRSI receipts, combined with overspending in areas such as social protection and health.
By contrast, capital spending came in €100 million below target due to under spending in areas such as jobs, enterprise and innovation.
The Department figures also show that the exchequer’s debt-servicing costs were just below €4.6 billion at the end of July, some €152 million lower than expected. However they were almost €2 billion higher than the same period last year.
Irish motorists facing more penalty point offences
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said Gardai still report that a large number of motorists do not wear a seatbelt or allow their passengers to travel without one
Drivers now face penalty points for almost 50 different motoring offences due to a new crackdown on road safety.
Additional laws will see anyone convicted for not wearing a seatbelt or having an unrestrained child in their car slapped with four penalty points and a fine of up to €90.
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar announced the changes, which are due to take effect from tomorrow.
“Shocking as it may sound there are still motorists who permit children under three to travel without being properly restrained,” said Mr Varadkar.
“Failing to wear a seatbelt or allowing a passenger to travel unrestrained is a breach of the law and you risk a fine and penalty points on your licence which will remain in place for three years.”
Seven new rules have been added to the penalty point system, bringing to 48 the number of offences drivers can be charged for.
Mr Varadkar said gardaí still report that a large number of motorists do not wear a seatbelt or allow their passengers to travel without one.
Figures released last month by the Road Safety Authority showed 23 per cent of drivers killed and 29 per cent of passengers killed on the roads in the first half of 2012 were not wearing seatbelts.
Garda Assistant Commissioner Gerard Phillips said being strapped in while driving or travelling as a passenger was one of the most basic forms of road safety.
“It is the simplest and most effective way to protect all occupants in any vehicle,” said Mr Phillips.
“We also wish to remind all road users to take extra care on the roads this August Bank Holiday weekend. July and August are known to be high-risk periods on our roads.”
He pointed out that two people were killed and six seriously injured on the roads during last August Bank Holiday.
“Large numbers of drivers will be travelling to sometimes unfamiliar places around the country, so we are appealing to all drivers to slow down, take their time, be well rested, wear their seatbelt at all times and never ever drink and drive,” he added.
Among the seven new offences, six of which focus on seatbelts, is a new category for vehicle weight.
Anyone convicted for driving a vehicle that exceeds the permitted weight will be given three penalty points and could face a fine of up to €300.
Galway marks link to the Titanic with its own replica ship standing proud on the promenade
The Addergool replica of the Titanic, pictured with actors at the Prom yesterday. Photo: Darius Ivan
Galway does not have the same connection to the RMS Titanic as does Belfast or Cork, but there were nine Galwegians aboard the doomed liner, and they are being commemorated throughout August.
A 1:10 scale ratio replica of the Titanic is currently ‘moored’ on Salthill’s promenade, opposite the Atlantaquarium. It appears to be sailing on Galway Bay when viewed from different angles.
The 88 feet long model recreates the ship designed by County Down man Thomas Andrews jr, and is accurate in every detail, down to the portholes, smokestacks, and anchors.
The replica is on loan from the people of Addergoole in Mayo, which lost 11 of its inhabitants when the ship sank in April 1912. A group of local men decided to build a model of the liner as a way of marking the centenary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage and in tribute to those from the village who lost their lives.
The loan of the replica vessel is an acknowledgement of the nine Galwegians who boarded the Titanic from Cobh in April 1912, six of whom lost their lives.
Among the survivors was Eugene Patrick Daly, who lived in St John’s Terrace and worked at the Galway Woollen Mills, he testified at the Titanic Hearings. Mr Daly’s eye witness testimony was instrumental in the passing of new lifeboat laws for passenger ships.
Another Galwegian on board was Martin Gallagher who helped nine women into lifeboats before he lost his life. The west of Ireland connection extends to Connemara where Bruce Ismay, owner of the White Star Line, lived for 20 years. He escaped the stricken ship on the last lifeboat.
The Titanic replica is accompanied by an adjoining tent where Titanic memorabilia and souvenirs are available from 10am and talks on the boat’s history will take place each evening at 7pm, from this Saturday until Monday August 20.
Six children saved after being swept out to sea off Donegal coast
Six children were rescued from the sea at Tramore strand close to Rosbeg, outside Portnoo, Co Donegal yesterday.
A 47-year-adult who helped five of the group to safety was then taken to Letterkenny General hospital as a precaution.
A sixth child was rescued by a RIB and taken ashore.
The children were believed to have been body-boarding when they were caught in a current.
The alarm was raised by an onlooker who contacted Malin Head Coast Guard service just before 2pm.
Arranmore lifeboat was called to the scene and the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Strandhill, Co Sligo, was also alerted.
Gardaii and the Coastguard service said the children were not taken to hospital. The only person taken there was adult who was related to some of the children.
Fota wildlife park Cork welcomes a new baby lemur
‘SEARCH FOR NAME NOW ON’
Fota’s new arrival: suggestions for a name may be sent to fotawildlife.ieThis is one of the first pictures released of the first baby lemur to be born at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork.
The four-week-old male lemur, born to parents Pudden and Podge, emerged this week for the first time after spending three weeks in a tree nest built by his mother.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur left its tree nest for the first time this week as conservation officials hope that the park’s world-famous breeding programme can help drag the species back from the brink.
The ruffed lemur, an endangered species native to Madagascar off east Africa, is considered an “evolutionary enigma” as it is the only species of primate that builds a nest for newborns.
The baby lemur will grow up fast and will be foraging in the wild independently at 10 weeks. It will reach its full adult size, with a typical weight between 7lb-12lb, at six months.
There are fewer than 500 black and white ruffed lemurs left in the wild.
Fota is home to three of the 16 species of Lemur, two of which are the black and white and red ruffed species.
The ruffed lemurs live on separate islands in the lakes area of Fota Wildlife Park where staff hope to expand the collection of lemurs in the coming years.
A competition accepting suggestions for a suitable name for the baby lemur is now under way at fotawildlife.ie
Fota Wildlife Park is a joint project between the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork.
It has been listed as one of Ireland’s top 10 visitor attractions (Central Statistics Office 2010) and is the most popular tourist destination in Cork.
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