| The decision to reduce the Universal Social Charge (USC) for medical card holders has been welcomed by Cavan/Monaghan TD Margaret Conlon. Medical card holders will now not be subjected to the top rate of USC of 7%, only the lower rates of 2% or 4% will apply to them. The USC was brought in as part of the Budget and replaces the health and income levies. The amendment to the USC for medical card holders is being brought in as part of the Finance Bill which is being debated in the Dáil this week. “The point of making this change is to make the Universal Social Charge fairer,” said Deputy Conlon. “Medical card holders should not be subjected to the highest rate of 7%. Thankfully the amendments proposed to the Finance Bill should see these changes made.” “This is another reason why we need to pass the Finance Bill this week, otherwise that change will not be made. My view is that we need to cut our cloth so that those who can pay the most, will pay the most.” “In that sense the decision to also increase the USC for self-employed people earning in excess of €100,000 by 3% also makes sense. It means that we are helping those medical card holders who are amongst the lower paid and asking those high earners to make a greater contribution to the running of the economy,” Deputy Conlon concluded. |
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 17:46