Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Finance to set out the position on income earners aged over 70 years or with full medical cards with income under €60,000 per year and who pay a maximum universal social charge rate of 3.5%; whether this is due to expire under current legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33841/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, individuals aged over 70 whose income does not exceed €60,000 are liable to a maximum rate of USC of 3.5%. The legislation underpinning this feature of the tax system has no expiry date.

Individuals who hold full medical cards and whose income does not exceed €60,000, are also only liable to a maximum rate of USC of 3.5%. When the USC was introduced by the previous Government, the preferential rate for medical card holders aged under 70 with unlimited income was due to expire at the end of 2014. I introduced an income cap of €60,000 in Budget 2013 to ensure that this measure was focussed on low and middle income earners. In Budget 2015, I extended the preferential rate for these individuals, so that it would be available up to the end 2017. A further review of this measure will be completed in advance of Budget 2018.