Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a significant issue for many workers. More than 600,000 workers availed of the flat rate expense allowance system in 2017, with gross claims of more than €160 million, which means a tax saved amount of €48 million. If we take an example such as miners working in Tara Mines, their allowances is €1,312 so their tax saving is more than €500 per annum. As the allowance for many nurses is €733, at the marginal rate it would result in a tax saving of close to €300 per annum.

I am concerned we are getting very close to the deadline and we do not know where all of this is going. There could be a nasty shock in January for tens of thousands of workers, if not more, when they see their payslips. I do not know the nature of the ongoing consultation but before any changes are made we should be made aware of them and we should be given an opportunity to debate the issue in the House. The Oireachtas finance committee should also have an opportunity to discuss with the Revenue Commissioners the nature and scope of this to see whether changes are possible.

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