Written Answers. - Tax Yield.
528.
Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer in 2002 of the reduction in employers' PRSI provided in the December 2001 budget. [22820/03]
529.
Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the projected cost to the Exchequer in 2003 of the reduction in employers' PRSI provided in the budgets of 2001 and 2002. [22821/03]
Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 529 together.
In budget 2001, the Minister for Finance announced the abolition of the employers PRSI ceiling. The estimated extra yield in 2003 is €482 million.
In budget 2002, the Minister announced a reduction from March 2002 in the employers' PRSI higher contribution rate from 12% to 10.75%, which includes the 0.7% national training levy. It was estimated that the cost of this measure was €347 million in 2003.