A tax relief scheme for the long-term unemployed, worth up to €30,000 if they return to work, is not being properly promoted by the Government or Revenue, said Fine Gael Seanad Enterprise Spokesman John Paul Phelan.
“Fianna Fáil and the Greens have shown absolutely no sense of urgency to tackle the serious unemployment problem. For example, the Revenue Assist scheme must be the best kept secret in Government circles,” the 32 year-old said.
“This tax relief scheme is worth up to €30,000 for every individual who has been unemployed on a long-term basis, and who returns to the workforce. It is divided between the new employee and their employer.
“Yet less than 0.2 per cent of those potentially eligible have been placed on the scheme. Long-term unemployment now stands at 155,000 people. However, just 306 long-term unemployed people, and their new employers, availed of this tax relief scheme last year.
“You wonder has the Government even bothered to insist that FÁS and social welfare offices should promote the scheme.
“I am not aware of a single instance where ‘Revenue Assist’ was advertised or promoted by the Government, or by Revenue. The scheme confers very significant benefits for long-term unemployed people who return to work:
For the employee, a minimum of €762 in the first year and €1,524 in total (plus €508 for each child ) over three years;
For the employer in the first year a minimum of €4,122 for a company, but an even more valuable €9,252 for a sole trader, because it is a tax relief – and in total €10,750 and €26,600 respectively over three years.
Phelan said: “If the Government wants to get Ireland working, how about promoting this scheme to every employer, every FÁS office, every local employment office, and every social welfare office?”
