The Revised Program for Government contains a number of interesting proposals and committments including a proposal to reduce tax relief on pension contributions to a flat 30%.  Details are unclear as to when it will apply from but if you are planning a top up contribution now could be the ideal time.

Also proposed is the abolition of the PRSI ceiling for employees. This will result in an employee's entire income being subject to PRSI at a rate of 4% whereas currently any income exceeding €75,036 is exempt. Again it is unclear as to when this change will be implemented.

It also reaffirms a committment to introduce a carbon tax - recent comments from the Minister for Finance indicate that this will be introduced in December's Budget. There is also a proposal to introduce a site tax and water charges as a means to fund local government but the precise details of these two changes and their date of implementation are yet to be clarified.

Finally there is a committment not to reintroduce Third Level fees in spite of much speculation to the contrary in recent months.