Results 481-500 of 34,380 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Recycling Policy (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200, 201, 202 and 203 together. My colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (CEE), has the lead policy and legislation responsibility in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which was introduced for environmental policy reasons to support the collection and recycling of empty drinks cans and plastic bottles. My...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. HTB provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that 313,980 taxpayer units claimed the Rent Tax Credit (RTC) for 2022, with 273,160 of these taxpayer units benefitting from it. In relation to 2023, 354,110 taxpayer units claimed the RTC, with 315,030 taxpayer units befitting from it. These numbers include both PAYE and self-assessed taxpayer units. A taxpayer unit is either an individual with any personal...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Redundancy Payments (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 203 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997) exempts from income tax statutory redundancy payments. Lump sum payments which arise as part of a redundancy package come within the charge to income tax by virtue of section 123 TCA 1997. There are, however, significant reliefs available on the potential tax liability arising from such payments contained in section 201 and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Provisions (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the legislative framework underpinning the automatic enrolment retirement (AE) savings scheme, is the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024. The policy and implementation of the AE system is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. Responsibility for the tax treatment of AE lies with me as Minister for Finance. My Department and Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Under section 825C to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) provides Income Tax relief to certain employees assigned to work in the State. The relief aims to support employers in relocating individuals with key skills from foreign-based operations to positions in Irish-based operations, thereby facilitating the creation of jobs and the development...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Funding (16 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand the Deputy has clarified that his question refers to EU funding opportunities that will be open for application to community groups or local authorities etc. I wish to advise that neither the Department nor the bodies under the aegis plan to open any new schemes in the next 6 or in the next 12 months. Revenue continually monitors and reviews funding that may be available and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Schemes (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Living City Initiative (LCI) is a targeted measure which is aimed at very specific areas in urgent need of regeneration, it is provided for under sections 372AAA to 372AAD of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. It currently offers income or corporation tax relief for qualifying expenditure incurred in the refurbishment and conversion of qualifying residential and commercial buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. I am advised by Revenue that as part of the redevelopment of Rosslare Europort, a new high energy X-ray gantry system will be deployed in October 2025. This is the first high energy X-ray gantry system to be deployed in the State and will be used to scan containerised freight and vehicles as required. In addition, so far this year...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The setting of VAT rates is subject to the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. The Directive generally holds that all goods and services are subject to VAT at the standard rate which must be set at a minimum of 15%. The exception to this is whether a good or service is listed under Annex III of the Directive where either a reduced rate or a VAT exemption may be applied. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 together. The E-Liquid Products Tax (EPT) was legislated for in Finance Act 2024 and will come into effect from 1 November 2025. Revenue is currently engaging with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure they are prepared in advance of the commencement date. Revenue has published detailed guidance on its website including...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Artificial Intelligence (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I can confirm for the Deputy that my department follows the Government approved Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Service as approved in May 2025. In addition, my department follows guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) including “Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies” released in June...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 111 and 116 together. The Programme for Government has committed to support small and medium enterprises, especially those in the retail and hospitality sectors. The VAT reduction announced in Budget 2026 will apply to food and catering services and to hairdressing services. The measure will not apply to entertainment such as admissions to cinemas,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: A farm income stabilisation tax measure currently exists in the form of income averaging. Section 657 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 allows farmers to pay tax based on the average of five years’ farming profits and losses. The measure allows eligible farmers to be charged tax on the average of the aggregate farming profits and losses over a five-year period. Tax is charged on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Flat-Rate Addition is reviewed each year in the run-up to the Budget in accordance with criteria set down in the EU VAT Directive. It is based on macro-economic data (i.e. agricultural inputs and production and the prevailing VAT rate structures) averaged over the preceding three years. Revenue’s calculations based on data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 suggest that full compensation...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2026 (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 114 and 115 together. Ireland first introduced a tax credit for R&D in 2004, which is available to all companies within the charge to Irish tax who carry out qualifying R&D activities. The policy objective of the R&D tax credit is to increase business R&D in Ireland as R&D supports high-value employment and can contribute to higher...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (15 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by Revenue that tax compliance programmes are kept under constant review to ensure that they are focused on the areas of greatest risk, including risks from the shadow economy. Challenging shadow economy activity and actively restricting opportunities for deliberate tax and duty evasion continues to be an organisational priority for Revenue. Since 2021, a sectoral shadow economy...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (14 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note at the outset that it is a legislative requirement that the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) is independent in the exercise of its functions and it is a matter for the Board to determine all aspects of the management and delivery of the appeals process. At an appeal hearing the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) reviews the decision by...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (14 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. Based on the latest available data (30 September 2025), the scheme has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (14 Oct 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332, 333 and 334 together. I am advised that Deputy Hearne's question relates to the Living City Initiative (LCI) rather that the 'over the shop' premises relief. The LCI is a targeted measure which is aimed at very specific areas in urgent need of regeneration, it is provided for under sections 372AAA to 372AAD of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. It...