Minister cuts Universal Social Charge rate for medical-card holders

The Finance Minister has announced that he is cutting the rate of the Universal Social Charge for medical-card holders.

The move, in an amendment to the Finance Bill, will see medical-card holders pay a rate of 4%, rather than the 7% announced on Budget Day.

The shortfall will be made up by increasing the charge to 10% on self-employed people earning more than 100,000.

It is unclear whether the move will be enough to convince Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae to back the Finance Bill.

Brian Lenihan has told the Dáil that he cannot exclude people from the charge completely.