Irish Software Association calls for Tax Incentives
In its pre-budget submission, the Irish Software Association [ISA] has expressed concern that Ireland is falling behind other OECD countries in terms of entrepreneurial activity and start-ups.
It has called on the Government to introduce a new tax-based funding scheme to increase seed capital available to high potential technology start-ups.
The ISA says that rather than terminating the BES scheme in December, 2001, as currently planned, its should be extended and expanded. The total amount of BES a company can raise should be increased from £250,000 to £750,000.
The ISA has also called on the Government to reinstate the employers' PRSI or to reduce the rate paid by employers to help reduce costs and the cash burn rate of the ICT sector. The submission says that the elimination of the ceiling on employers' PRSI was "a devastating blow to the software sector in Ireland."
