asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider giving some relief from income tax to all pensioners whose total income does not exceed £1,000 per annum approximately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Relief.
173.
Mr. Kenny
Alterations in the income tax personal allowances and reliefs are primarily budgetary matters and, as such, receive due consideration at the appropriate time. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage indicate what the next budget may or may not contain.
174.
asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of the most recent tax year for which figures are available, he will state the aggregate value of (a) income tax and surtax reliefs for dependent children in the State (b) income tax and surtax reliefs in respect of mortgage interest payments (c) tax reliefs in respect of voluntary health insurance contributions (d) tax reliefs in respect of life assurance premiums (e) income tax and surtax relief in respect of dependent relatives other than children and (f) tax reliefs granted to companies and individuals in respect of contributions made to company and occupational pension schemes.
Mr. Kenny
The approximate estimated amounts given in tax reliefs in 1972-73 for (a) dependent children and (e) dependent relatives are £27 million and £3 million, respectively.
Statistics are not compiled in such a manner as would enable estimates to be given in relation to (b), (c), (d) and (f) of the question. I should mention, however, that a special survey was made in 1971 which indicated that the cost to the Exchequer in that year of allowing tax relief in respect of mortgage interest was about £1.6 million. No later information is available but the indications are that relief in respect of mortgage interest is currently of the order of £3 million.