Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid West, was delighted to attend the launch of Coeliac Awareness Week 2023, at the head office of the Coeliac Society of Ireland (CSI) based in Clondalkin.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Higgins said; “There are an estimated 100,000 people living with coeliac disease in Ireland and a further 450,000 who are gluten intolerant, so its something that impacts a significant amount of people.
“This Coeliac Awareness Week is all about raising awareness for the condition itself, the symptoms and the supports that are out there to support people living with coeliac disease.
“The Coeliac Society of Ireland do great work in empowering the coeliac and gluten intolerant community with information, advice and practical solutions for navigating a gluten-free diet and we are very fortunate to have them based here in our community in Dublin Mid West in Clondalkin.
Deputy Higgins concluded: “Importantly, the CSI are also very involved in advocating for coeliacs at a government and policy level and I’m delighted to have been able to engage with them on the tax relief scheme for gluten free foods.
“Last year I was happy to work with the CSI and my Fine Gael colleague Deputy Fergus O’Dowd to bring about clarity in the Revenue guidelines for claiming tax back on gluten free foods.
“If you are a PAYE worker and have proof of a coeliac diagnosis and purchase gluten free foods due to your condition, you are entitled to claim back 20% of the total cost incurred.
“When verifying tax relief claims on gluten free food, Revenue officials may accept: a chemist or supermarket receipt; evidence from food packaging; or an annual statement from a multiple in support of a claim, if the information provided clearly demonstrates that the foods purchased have been specifically manufactured to be gluten free and show details of the expenditure incurred.
“Revenue have also now confirmed that officials may also accept information from the Coeliac Society of Ireland’s annual food List if it is provided by a taxpayer in support of his or her claim for tax relief, which is really welcome clarity.
Deputy Higgins said: “The Coeliac Society of Ireland’s annual food list is a really helpful resource for those with coeliac disease and it is really helpful for them to know that inclusion on that list can be used as support for a tax relief claim.
“I know that there are also many coeliac sufferers who cannot avail of the tax relief because they are non-PAYE workers and this is something that I am continuing to raise within my parliamentary party and within government to advocate for change in this respect,” concluded Deputy Higgins.
