Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of increasing the lifetime cap on qualifying gains for entrepreneur relief from capital gains tax to €11.5 million and €15 million, respectively. [29774/18]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of introducing a 20% capital gains tax rate for investors in unquoted companies with a lifetime limit of €10 million qualifying gains. [29776/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 86 together.

As regards Question No. 84, it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the revised Entrepreneur Relief provided for in Section 597AA of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. I am advised by Revenue that the current lifetime limit applicable to this relief is €1 million in chargeable gains at a CGT rate of 10 per cent. The cost of increasing this limit to €11.5 million and €15 million as suggested by the Deputy would be approximately €48 million and €50 million respectively in a full year. This cost is based on claims in respect of Entrepreneur Relief that were included in 2016 tax returns and does not take account of any potential behavioural change.

As regards Question No. 86, it is not possible to separately identify on tax returns the amount of chargeable gains associated with unquoted shares. Therefore, there is no basis to cost the proposal as requested by the Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of introducing a 30% tax rate for income on share dividends. [29775/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to introducing a 30% tax rate on dividend income from Irish resident companies to replace all Income Tax, USC and PRSI currently collected.

I am advised by Revenue that based on tax returns for 2016 and the yield from Dividend Withholding Tax for the same year, a tentative estimate of the tax gain from a final liability flat tax rate of 30% on dividend income could be in the region of €95 million.

This estimate is based on an assumption of no behavioural change.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Finance if it is feasible technically to introduce a varied tax credit rate of 30% for SMEs only availing of the research and development tax credit; the potential cost estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29777/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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It is assumed the Deputy is proposing to increase the tax credit rate of 25% for research and development expenditure to 30% for SMEs.

With regards to the potential for a change in to the rate provided to SMEs, potential State Aid implications would need to be considered when making any change which would provide a varied rate to any targeted cohort of taxpayers. However I would note that the existing refundable element of the tax credit is of particular assistance to companies that are not currently making profits, and this can be of relevance to SME companies in a research & development phase.

It is not possible to accurately estimate the potential future cost implications of the Deputy's proposed increase to the R&D Tax Credit provided to SMEs, as this would be dependent on future expenditure and the potential impact on expenditure from this increase in the credit. However, I am advised by Revenue that, based on claims in respect of the research and development tax credit included in 2016 tax returns, the estimated tax cost of increasing the rate to 30% rate for SMEs could be in the region of €30 million in a full year. This cost assumes no behavioural change.

The Deputy may also be interested to note that Revenue has recently published a new dataset in relation to the research and development tax credit, which is available at: .