Robert Troy
Ceist:189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons that availed of the special assignee relief programme, SARP, per annum. [23430/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 May 2018
Ceisteanna (189, 190, 191)
Robert Troy
Ceist:190. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the special assignee relief programme, SARP,; and his further plans to allow the partner of those that qualify for SARP to work. [23431/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRobert Troy
Ceist:191. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the special assignee relief programme, SARP, compares internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23432/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together.
The table sets out the number of claimants for the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) for each of the years 2012 to 2015, the most recent year for which figures are available:
|
Year |
Claimants |
|
2012 |
11 |
|
2013 |
121 |
|
2014 |
302 |
|
2015 |
586 |
I am advised by Revenue that its SARP report for 2016 is likely to be published in June.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department formally reviewed SARP in 2014. That report can be found at: http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/Documents/Report_on_SARP_final.pdf.
On foot of the review, SARP was extended to include assignees arriving in the country up to and including 2020. However, as with all such time limited incentives, my Department keeps SARP under review at all times.
In addition, as part of the review, a comparison was undertaken of SARP with similar schemes in France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The findings of that comparison can be found at pages 18 to 20 of the review.
Finally, the eligibility of non-EU/EEA citizens to work in Ireland is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
As the Deputy will be aware, those partners of SARP recipients who are citizens of the EU/EEA can in any case avail of the free movement of labour provisions in European law.