CORI urges Govt to increase tax credits rather than tax bands

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has called on the Government to increase tax credits in this year's budget rather than widening the 20% income tax band.

CORI said any widening of the tax band would only benefit those earning salaries higher than the current limit of €28,000, while an increase in the tax credit would benefit all workers.

Spokesman Fr Sean Healy said: "If the Government had €700m to give away in tax cuts in the coming budget, if they gave all to widening the tax band, then that would mean that those people at the top of the income scale would benefit by around €1,200 a year," he said.

"But nobody under €28,000 would gain anything."