Tax reliefs 'can boost charities'

State agency Combat Poverty believes the Government should consider introducing tax reliefs to encourage investment in some non-profit organisations.

But it has also warned an Oireachtas committee that there should be no extension to the current crop of property-based tax reliefs.

In a submission to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, Combat Poverty says that one way of boosting the social benefits of tax reliefs would be to consider extending them to investors in non-profit organisations.

"Such a move would further increase the community gain of such schemes and improve their economic desirability," it says.

However, the agency's submission also says that there should be no further extension to schemes designed to support investment in property-based businesses like hotels and holiday homes. The holiday home incentive has cost the taxpayer €315 million, according to estimates.