Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In respect of amendment No. 9, I acknowledge the difficulties that many parents face in paying the rent due for the residence used by their children while they are attending college. The credit will be available in such cases subject to all other conditions of this measure being met, provided the child concerned is undertaking an approved course and was under the age of 23 at the commencement of the year of assessment in which he or she first entered an approved course. This means the parents in question may continue to claim the relief for a number of years after the child has reached 23 years of age, provided other relevant conditions are met. As the Deputies will appreciate, from a Government perspective there must be some cut-off point. The age point applied here is the same as applies in respect of classification as a mature student for the purposes of Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants. Other conditions applying include that a child's residence in the property facilitates his or her attendance or participation in the approved course and that neither parent nor child is related to the landlord concerned.

In respect of amendment No. 11, in my budget 2023 address, I acknowledged the challenges the Government faces in relation to housing. I know how real they are for many. I also acknowledge that too many are paying too much of their income in rent. As part of the Government's response, I announced the new €500 rent tax credit to assist renters, specifically those who do not receive other housing supports from the State. This reflects the fact that a great many hard-pressed renters in the private rental sector have not had any degree of income support from the State until now.

In respect of amendment No. 16, the new credit represents a proportionate response in the circumstances. However, I acknowledge that for many, rents are still too high. It is estimated to cost approximately €200 for each year it operates, which is a significant amount of expenditure within our tax system. The credit is expected to provide assistance to those in the private residential rental sector pending further progress on the Government's Housing for All strategy. The most recent Housing for All action plan update and quarter 3 progress report, published last week by the Department of the Taoiseach, indicates that there are, of course, challenges. It also acknowledges that housing supply is increasing and that the Government fully expects to meet its 2022 delivery target, noting that more homes are expected to be built this year than in any year since 2009. Additional supply over time will help to moderate the housing costs in both the purchase and rental sectors. In the circumstances, I do not propose to accept the amendments put forward by the Deputies. I have answered Deputy Barry's question.