Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
277. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the projected cost in 2013 and 2014 to the Exchequer of allowing millionaires to direct their tax relief on charitable donations to the approved body of their choice if the charitable donations scheme is removed from the scope of the high earners' restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/13]
View answer278. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the reason the decision to remove the charitable donations scheme from the scope of the high earners' restriction up to an annual donation limit of €1 million per individual was not announced during his budget 2013 speech or associated documentation at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
I announced in the recent Budget my intention to simplify the scheme of tax relief for donations to approved bodies. Details of all of the simplification measures, including those set out by the Deputy were provided in Annex E of the Budget book. I am unable to provide a projected cost for this measure as it is not possible to anticipate the level of donations that donors might make. In addition, in order to provide an estimate, it would be necessary to know the level of incomes and consequent income tax liabilities of such donors. However, the simplification measures when taken together are designed to be Exchequer neutral.
