Dear Reader

Welcome to the spring issue of our newsletter. 

Quarter 1 2017 has passed by in a flash with significant developments in both national and international politics.

On a national level, the first months of 2017 have been dominated by speculation surrounding An Taoiseach Mr. Enda Kenny’s plan in relation to his departure from office. Unrest in the public sector continues to pose challenges, with Bus Eireann the latest company to be hit by striking unions.

The Help to Buy Incentive is designed to assist first-time buyers with obtaining the deposit required to purchase or self-build a new house or apartment to live in as their home. The measure, introduced by the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan in the budget last October, will allow purchasers to claim a rebate of income tax already paid over the previous 4 years up to a maximum of €20,000, depending on the value of the property.

I am drowing in debt

The title to this piece is the tag line for the recent TV ad which forms part of the awareness campaign which was recently launched by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). This is a link to their TV advert

The video shows a mother and her 2 kids at breakfast time as they are getting ready for school. It moves on to show her drowning in her kitchen because of the huge pressure she is feeling due to the debts that have been built up and the constant letters, phone calls and threats of legal proceedings and home repossession being made by her creditors. I find this video very poignant and it shows her as just being a normal person who is absolutely lost and doesn’t know what to do.

With St. Patrick’s Day just gone and Easter around the corner, our Payroll department have been busy fielding questions from clients enquiring as to their obligations in relation to public holiday entitlements of their employees.

The system can be complicated at times, particularly when it comes to part-time employees and dealing with their entitlements. 

How much life insurance is enough?

It is a conversation most of us would prefer not to have, but for those with significant others or dependents, it’s worth taking the time to consider how they would be protected financially in the event of your death.

Maybe you have no cover in place, or maybe you have some but are unsure whether it will be enough to provide for your loved ones. You may even have some cover that you didn’t know about.  Either way, how much cover might you need? 

Congratulations to Chantelle Kennelly and Tadhg O’Shea

Earlier this year Chantelle Kennelly passed her final exams with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Chantelle is pictured below with Tim McCarthy, Managing Partner and Abina Kenneally, Partner of Quintas.

Tadhg O’Shea also passed his exams with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants earlier this year.

 Tadhg is pictured below with Fachtna O’Mahony, Partner of Quintas.

Congratulations to both Chantelle and Tadhg.

New Staff

Welcome to our new employee Stefanos Karousis who started with us recently.

Junior Cert Revision Course

Cork Junior Cert students gathered at Quintas last weekend to swot up on Business Studies, ahead of their State examinations in June. The course, which was provided by Fachtna O'Mahony Partner in Quintas for the tenth year running, covered such topics as time planning, topic prediction, marking schemes and question selection for the Business Studies Junior Cert Exam. We wish all the students the very best with their upcoming exams.