Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

178. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details in tabular form in salary scales of €5,000 in the range of €25,000 to €100,000 of the impact that changes to tax relief on pension contributions for public servants, as proposed by elements of the Opposition, which would see a reduction of 50% in relief, would have to take home pay, and income tax increases to individual public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25870/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy. In the first instance I am not clear on the specific proposals for reductions in tax relief on the pension contributions of public servants to which the Deputy refers and the source of those proposals. In any event, it would not be possible to reduce tax relief on the pension contributions made by public servants without applying similar reductions to tax relief on pension contributions, generally, and I have no plans to do so.

Moreover, it would not be feasible to provide reliable estimates of the impact on the take-home pay and tax position of individual public servants or others by reference to gross salary scales. The impact on take-home pay and tax of individual public servants would be influenced not alone by the nature of the reduced tax relief (which is not clear) but also by issues such as the level of pension contributions being made, the marital status of the individual (married/single), the scale of tax credits/allowances available and the rate of income tax applicable in individual cases (standard rate or marginal rate).