Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The new normal is working from home. We encourage it in the pandemic and I support that but it brings additional costs to workers. In the context of the budget next week, I ask the Taoiseach to consider the following. We need the Revenue Commissioners to inform employees of what they are entitled to by way of a public awareness campaign. The self-employed are allowed to write-off of costs in respect of light, heating, telephone, etc.. When it comes to the PAYE sector, given the fact we are in level 3 and that we could be in it for a while or be up and down levels for some time, can we, through the budget, bring in some measures around cost write-offs to encourage people through these levels to work from home, because what they get currently is fractional? I think it is a practical suggestion and a lot of workers are going to be affected. I ask the Taoiseach to consider my suggestion as part of the budget.

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