361. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance the number of beneficiaries of TaxSaver tickets in each of the past 10 years up to 2024; and the estimated cost of the scheme in each year. [63455/25]

Section 118(5A) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) provides for an exemption from benefit-in-kind (BIK) where an employer purchases a travel pass for one of their employees or directors.

Under section 118B TCA, an employer and employee may also enter into a salary sacrifice arrangement under which the employee agrees to sacrifice part of his or her salary, in exchange for a travel pass.

Where a travel pass is purchased under the TaxSaver scheme or through a salary sacrifice arrangement certain conditions must be met, for example:

• the cost incurred must relate to a monthly or annual bus, railway or ferry travel pass;

• the travel pass must be issued by or on behalf of one or more approved transport providers; and

• the approved transport provider must be contracted or licensed to provide the transport services covered by the travel pass.

There is no Revenue notification procedure for the employers involved, nor for the directors or employees, nor for the transport providers. Accordingly, the Department of Finance estimate the take-up and cost of the scheme based on statistics provided by the National Transport Authority on the number and value of TaxSaver tickets sold.

Estimates on the number of beneficiaries, and cost of the scheme, in the past ten years, are set out below:

The Deputy should note that estimates in respect of 2025 are not yet available, however, they will be published as part of my Department’s Tax Expenditure report, and in the annual update to the Tax Expenditure Passports.