Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers who earn more that three times the average industrial wage. [30585/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The current average industrial wage is estimated at €34,000. The number of income earners on income tax records who earn more than €102,000 (three times €34,000) is estimated at 143,800 based on projected 2008 incomes.

The figure is an estimate from the Revenue tax forecasting model using actual data for the year 2005 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for the year in question. It is therefore provisional and likely to be revised. It should be noted that a married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.