Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If it is so readily available there should be no reason why a report would not be laid before the Houses on this issue. If it is so easy to compile such a report why is the Government opposed to such a measure? I attempted to oppose this section but was ruled out of order because of the stringent rules placed on the Opposition in respect of money Bills. The Government is increasing the threshold under which one can apply for SARP. It was not enough to cover those employees who earn half a million euro but the Government has removed that threshold and made it limitless so people who earn millions of euro will be able to avail of this scheme which deducts 30% of an individual's income, excluding the first €75,000, for tax purposes. It is a significant benefit for those individuals.

I have always acknowledged the need to take risks in finance Bills, particularly where they can create employment and spur on secondary benefits for tax take and so forth but they need to be based on evidence and I have not been presented with any evidence to say this is required to remove the threshold from €500,000 up to €1.5 million or €2 million or whatever because there are no limits. When the Government brought in this controversial measure I questioned the Tánaiste, who stood where the Minister of State now stands, and she said that each person who avails of SARP will be required to create 50 jobs. It was budgeted for 100 persons to avail of this scheme but the figure is approximately a quarter of that and those jobs have not been created. Not even ten have been created for each person. The number is closer to one. This was intended to create employment but it obviously has not done so. That is why a very transparent report should be laid before the House which deals with the tax foregone, the number of jobs created and the number of people who avail of SARP. I say that irrespective of my opposition to what the Government is doing on the threshold because there is no evidence to support such a move now.

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