Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I will come to that in a minute on how the €400 million and the €100 million is reached.

The final close down in 2014, the guillotine which I mentioned, is designed to allow for this assessment to take place on the full impact of the way the are being wound up and to ensure that all possible impacts are identified and taken account of in view of the considerations mentioned by Deputy Rabbitte and others.

Based on the latest data, the cost of the legacy reliefs was estimated at €400 million and when developing the initiative to terminate the schemes, the timescale of four years was taken as being a median being acceptable in terms of achieving the assessment and in terms of winding down in a proportionate manner, and on that basis the €100 million arises as a quarter of the €400 million.

The points made by Deputy Ardagh were considered when this proposal was being developed and the view was taken that, no more than anybody else in society, those who were involved with the section 23 schemes ought also to make a contribution towards the financial adjustments being made currently.

Deputy Creed asked about student accommodation and all of the other schemes which I listed at the beginning of my contribution - there are approximately a dozen of them in all. They all are restricted by the capital allowances restriction and, in fact, in most instances have been restricted previously, both in 2006 and earlier this year. The figures are based on the Exchequer costs in recent years, and the Exchequer costs have dropped in the past year.

D'iarr an Teachta Ó Dochartaigh ceist faoi na faoisimh cánach a chríochnóidh i gcoitinne i 2014. Dúirt sé go mairfidh cuid acu go dtí 2021. Baineann na faoisimh áirithe leis na foirgnimh faoin scéim seo nach bhfuil díolta go fóill, agus nár thosaigh an tréimhse deich mbliana a mbaineann leo go fóill. Mar a dúirt an Teachta, caithfimid iarracht a dhéanamh bheith cothrom do dhaoine sa scéim ghinearálta. Ní chóir go gcuirfí deireadh leo anois láithreach, de bharr na fadhbanna a luaigh an Teachta Rabbitte agus Teachtaí eile. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil cuid dóibh, a bhaineann leis an chás a luaigh an Teachta Ó Dochartaigh, á choinneáil.

Most of the Deputies mentioned the exemption in reliefs for artists. The first point to bear in mind is that the Commission on Taxation recommended that this exemption be finished and the Government took the view that there were some benefits, as outlined by several Deputies. Luaigh an Teachta Ó Snodaigh cuid díobh nuair a bhí sé ag caint.

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