Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to change the standard fund threshold in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55016/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that in 2023, the then Minister for Finance announced an independent examination of the standard fund threshold (SFT). The examination, which was led by an independent expert, made several recommendations for reform across the SFT regime. Following consideration of the examination, Government agreed to implement changes to the SFT regime in a phased manner, with some changes legislated for in Finance Act 2024 and others to be considered in the future. Finance Act 2024 provided for phased increases to the SFT beginning in 2026 with the SFT reaching €2.8 million by 2029. From 2030, future increases will take account of increases in average earnings.

Furthermore, an implementation group has being convened to consider the other recommendations in the examination. This group is chaired by the Department of Finance with representatives from Revenue, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The group has commenced its consideration of the recommendations and I expect it will report to me in Q2 2026. The work of the group will inform future consideration for changes to the SFT regime.