Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost in budget 2017 of reducing each of the universal social charge rates by 0.5% and by 1%, by individual measure and by cumulative amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5172/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost in budget 2017 of abolishing the universal social charge for self-employed persons earning over €100,000 per year. [5173/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost in budget 2017 of abolishing the universal social charge 3% and 1% rates and leaving all other rates and thresholds unchanged. [5174/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost in budget 2017 of exempting all income below €19,572 per annum from the universal social charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5176/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of abolishing the 1% rate of the universal social charge that applies to income up to €12,012 per year. [5178/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 to 88, inclusive, and 90 and 92 together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a Post-Budget 2016 Ready Reckoner is available on the Revenue Statistics webpage at.

In relation to the Deputy's Questions regarding the reduction or abolition of the current USC rates, this Ready Reckoner shows a wide range of detailed information, including the estimated cost or yield to the Exchequer of changes to the Universal Social Charge (USC) bands and rates.  While the Ready Reckoner does not show all of the specific costings requested by the Deputy, others can be estimated on a pro-rata basis with those displayed in the Reckoner.  For example, the full year cost of decreasing the 3% USC rate to 2% is estimated to be €148 million. Other decreases can be estimated on a straight line basis.

In regards to the Deputy's Question relating to the abolition of the USC surcharge for self-employed persons earning over €100,000 per year, the first and full year costs to the Exchequer are estimated to be €34 million and €112 million respectively. 

In regards to the Deputy's question relating to the cost to the Exchequer of exempting income below €19,572 from the USC, these costs are estimated to be €63 million and €87 million for the first and full year respectively.  For the purposes of these costs, it has been assumed that the current USC bands and rates will apply to taxpayers whose USC-liable income exceeds €19,572.

These figures are estimates from the Revenue tax forecasting model using latest actual data for the year 2013, adjusted as necessary for income, self-employment and employment trends in the interim. They are estimated by reference to 2016 incomes and are provisional and may be revised. Estimates for 2017 incomes will not be available until later this year.