Vol. 476 No. 6
30 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Finance if he has received submissions from the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group regarding tax relief for corporate charitable donations; and if he will make a statement setting out his position on the matter. [4836/97]
55 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the provision, if any, he will make for tax relief on corporate donations for Irish charities in the forthcoming Finance Bill. [4297/97]
69 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the representations, if any, he has received from the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group seeking tax relief on corporate donations above a given level; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that according to extensive costings carried out by the group, the estimated cost to the Exchequer would amount to just £3 million; his views on whether charities perform a range of invaluable services which are not or cannot be provided by the State; the plans, if any, he has to make appropriate provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7877/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 55 and 69 together.
As I stated in reply to parliamentary questions on this issue last month, I received a pre-budget submission from the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group in November 1996 concerning tax relief for corporate charitable donations and having regard to the fact that charities already enjoy significant benefits under the tax code I have no plans to introduce a general scheme of tax relief on corporate donations at present. Moreover, the State is already highly supportive financially of charitable endeavours both at home and abroad through ODA spending and Exchequer and national lottery assistance to the domestic voluntary sector.
These tax reliefs and direct State assistance are testimony to the work done by charities in Ireland which both supplement and complement those services provided by the State. I welcome this opportunity to put on record my appreciation of the very worthwhile work done by the charitable sector.
