Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
123. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the fact that decreases in the live register figure are not reflected in the average amount of income tax paid by taxpayers in County Wexford in each of the years from 2011 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46854/18]
View answerThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, which sets out Ireland’s policies in support of enterprise and employment growth. Second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that a substantial share of the jobs being created by economic recovery are filled by people taken from the Live Register.
Table 1 shows that the Live Register in Wexford has fallen by 40% in the 6 years to December 2017, close to the reduction of 42% nationally. In the year to December 2017, the Live Register in Wexford has fallen by 1,364 people, or almost 15.2%, again closely in line with national trends.
Table 2 compares national average income tax with average income tax paid in Wexford during the period 2011-2017. The figures show that the average amount of income tax paid in Wexford, increased by 57% during this 6 year period, exceeding national average growth of 42%.
Table 1
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
National Live Register |
444,905 |
436,254 |
418,950 |
383,779 |
343,556 |
302,945 |
258,580 |
|
% Change |
-1.9% |
-4.0% |
-8.4% |
-10.5% |
-11.8% |
-14.6% |
|
|
Wexford Live Register |
12.762 |
12,430 |
12,158 |
11,370 |
10,258 |
8,978 |
7,614 |
|
% Change |
-2.6% |
-2.2% |
-6.5% |
-9.8% |
-12.5% |
-15.2% |
https://www.cso.ie/en/index.html
Table 2
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Average PAYE Income Tax (€m) |
11,375 |
12,414 |
12,955 |
13,951 |
14,590 |
15,272 |
16,202 |
|
% Change |
9% |
4% |
8% |
5% |
5% |
6% |
|
|
Average PAYE Income Tax Wexford (€m) |
110 |
115 |
122 |
141 |
150 |
161 |
173 |
|
% Change |
5% |
6% |
16% |
6% |
7% |
8% |
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/index.aspx
While data from the Labour Force Survey is not available at the county level, trends in the Live Register can give an indication of underlying trends in local unemployment. To date, the policies being pursued under the Action Plan for Jobs and under Pathways to Work have been effective in reducing unemployment, both nationally and in Wexford. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
