Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
436. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted a cost benefit analysis for the proposed new investment scheme; if not, his plans to carry out a cost benefit analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38933/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Savings and Investment Union (SIU) is a European initiative with the main aim to help European citizens to invest more so as to ensure that they have better financial outcomes and are better provided for in the future. On 30 September 2025, as part of the SIU strategy, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation on increasing the availability of Savings and Investment Accounts (SIAs) in Member States. The Recommendation outlines the key characteristics that SIAs should have to maximise their uptake and help achieve the objective of boosting retail participation in capital markets. Ireland is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance retail investor participation in capital markets and strongly welcomed the publication of this Recommendation. I have announced that I intend to legislate for an investment account in Ireland.
Work is underway on a?roadmap for the taxation of retail investment that was announced in Budget 2026.?The roadmap will set out an approach to simplify and adapt the tax framework to further support retail investment, while retaining necessary and important anti-avoidance protections in a proportionate manner. The roadmap is expected to be published in Summer 2026. A key aspect of the roadmap will be the introduction of the new investment account. The new account will be?aligned with the Commission’s recommendation and expert views are being considered.
The European Commission published a working document to accompany their Savings and Investment Account recommendation, which is available on their website. The working document includes an assessment of the impacts of these accounts on EU households. The assessment found that accounts, particularly those with low costs, favourable tax treatment, a streamlined and mostly automatised tax process and flexible investments, have been associated with high participation levels in capital markets across the population. This also includes lower income groups and those with reduced wealth. Inclusively designed accounts have been shown to reduce participation gaps linked to gender, income and accessibility.
