Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his plans for tax incentives for culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32875/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (184)
Freagraí scríofa
The question of State support for the arts and culture, including the creative industries, is a matter for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in conjunction with other Ministers as appropriate, including the Minister for Finance. Such support may include assistance in the form of direct expenditure and it may also be provided through the tax system in certain circumstances.
In this regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines 2014 which set out the conditions in which support through the tax system is most appropriate. The Guidelines provide that tax expenditures should be limited to circumstances where there is a demonstrable market failure and where a tax based incentive would be more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention.
The Guidelines, which form part of the 2014 Report on Tax Expenditures, are available at the following link:
http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/Documents/Tax_Expenditures_Oct14.pdf.
As the Deputy will be aware, significant direct expenditure supports, as identified in Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach and Project Ireland 2040, form part of the Programme for Government. In addition, there are a number of tax incentives already in operation which support culture and the arts, these include:
- the artist's tax exemption;
- tax relief for investment in films;
- tax relief on the donation of heritage items;
- tax relief on the donation of heritage properties;
- tax relief for expenditure on significant buildings and gardens; and
- tax relief for donations to approved bodies.
Furthermore, in relation to personal and corporation tax, there are a number of other tax incentives in operation which are designed to support entrepreneurship and job creation; these may be available to those who start a cultural or artistic enterprise; they include:
- Start Up Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE);
- Start Your Own Business relief (SYOB);
- tax relief for certain start-up companies; and
- the Employment and Investment incentive (EII).
If it is considered that there are lacunae in support for the Arts through the tax system, such issues may be directed in the first instance to the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.