asked the Minister for Finance the length of time which has elapsed since the income tax personal allowances were last raised; and the increase in the consumer price index since that date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Personal Allowances.
55.
This year, I am raising the personal allowance for married men from £394 to £494 for the year of assessment in which the marriage takes place.
For the year commencing on 6th April, 1954, the allowance for single persons was increased from £140 to £150 and for widowed persons from £140 to £175. For the year commencing on the 6th April, 1956, the allowance for married men was increased from £300 to £310. In addition to these, there were increases of £84 in each case for the year commencing on the 6th April, 1960, as a compensatory adjustment for the reduced rate reliefs which were abolished to facilitate the introduction of PAYE.
The consumer price index stood at 200 in mid-May, 1968. The corresponding figure for mid-May, 1954, was 124 and for mid-May, 1956, was 134.