Seán Haughey
Ceist:287 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce tax relief for child care expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21576/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 September 2004
Ceisteanna (106, 107, 108)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:312 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to introduce tax relief for child care costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22315/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287and 312 together.
There are no such specific proposals at present in this area. As the Deputy knows, all tax issues are a matter for the budget. The core objective of Government policy in the area of child support is to provide assistance which will offer real choice to parents and which will benefit all children. In that context, our policy has been to increase child benefit by substantial amounts as the main fiscal instrument through which support will be provided to parents with dependent children. Child benefit provides assistance to all parents in whatever caring choices are most appropriate for them and their children. In addition, unlike tax relief, it provides support to parents irrespective of their income status.
We have also undertaken measures to favour the supply of child care by tax incentives to set up facilities and relief from BIK taxation for free or subsidised child care provided by employers. Child care fees are also exempted from VAT. Taken together these represent substantial measures to assist with the cost of child care.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:288 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance when the present level of tax relief for third level education was last increased; the amount it would be increased to if it had kept pace with the rate of inflation since that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21590/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that the maximum amount of qualifying fees allowable under the scheme is determined by the Minister for Education and Science, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. It is currently €3,175 per year and has remained at that level since tax relief on third level fees was introduced in 1995 for full-time undergraduates in approved private third level colleges in Ireland. Adjusted for inflation generally, this amount would be €4,200.
Any proposal to increase the amount of qualifying fees allowable for the purposes of tax relief would, in the first instance, be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey.