Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated annual cost of expanding the foreign earnings deduction to an extra country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28618/18]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual number of persons based on the most recent data that have availed of the foreign earnings deduction; the annual cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28622/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 115 together.

I am advised by Revenue that the latest information on the cost and number of individuals availing of the Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED) is as follows:

The latest year for which data is currently available is 2015. I am further advised by Revenue that data in respect of 2016 will become available shortly.

Regarding the Deputy's question on the estimated annual cost of expanding FED to an extra country, Revenue has advised me that it is not possible to estimate the cost of this proposal as there is no data available on the number of taxpayers that would qualify to claim the deduction, how this would vary from country to country, or the ability of taxpayers to absorb the deduction.