Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Finance the reduction in tax expenditure that would be achieved from abolishing tax relief for medical and dental insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36629/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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It should be noted that relief for qualifying dental insurance policies is allowed as part of the general relief for medical insurance since 2004 and is not identified separately for statistical purposes. On that basis, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief allowed through the tax relief at source (TRS) system for medical insurance premia in 2012 is estimated at €448 million. The cost figure above does not include a further cost to the Exchequer of €436 million of the age-related tax relief at source, which was established by the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The cost of the age-related tax credit is offset by a Stamp Duty on health insurance policies. The tax credit and levy were part of an interim scheme of risk equalisation which was introduced in order to provide direct support to community rating in the private health insurance market and is intended to be Revenue neutral over its duration. It expired on 31 December 2012 and was replaced from 1 January 2013 by a permanent risk equalisation scheme, provided for in the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2012.