427,000 low paid and part-time workers to benefit under Fine Gael’s USC plans – Burke

Deputy Peter Burke has today highlighted how lower paid and part-time workers will benefit under Fine Gael’s tax plans.

“Fine Gael’s tax plan to raise the USC exemption threshold from €13,000 to €20,500 means that 427,000 people on low incomes will benefit, including full-time minimum wage workers, low paid part-time workers and those in receipt of modest occupational pensions.

“All workers on the average part-time wage (€17,651) will no longer be in the USC net under Fine Gael.

“This supports our manifesto commitments to make work pay and to flexible working, encouraging people with family commitments to stay in the workforce.

“Coupled with our plans to raise the minimum wage and cut the costs of childcare, Fine Gael has a strong tax package to support lower income workers.

“Unlike Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael will ensure that hard-pressed workers keep more of their own money as their wages increase.

“The other strand of our income tax package – increasing the standard rate cut-off point – will help earners remain on the lower 20% income tax rate as their wages increase,” Deputy Burke concluded.