Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Finance the advice he received from the tax strategy group in advance of budget 2018; if he will publish the advice he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44790/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Tax Strategy Group (TSG) is in place since the early 1990s and is chaired by the Department of Finance with membership comprising senior officials and political advisers from a number of Civil Service Departments and Offices.

Papers on various options for tax policy changes are prepared annually by Department of Finance officials. The TSG is not a decision making body and the papers produced by the Department are simply a list of options and issues to be considered in the Budgetary process. Papers relating to PRSI and social welfare issues are also prepared for the Group by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

In line with the Government’s commitment to Budgetary reform including greater engagement with the Oireachtas, the Tax Strategy Group papers are now published in advance of the Budget to facilitate informed discussion. This year the papers were published on 31 July 2017 and are available on my Department’s website atwww.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/tax/the-tax-strategy-group/