Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Tax Expenditures in Budget 2024: Department of Finance

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Ms Costello, for the huge amount of information on that. I have one or two questions about it myself.

On both the mortgage and the rent, a great many people are under pressure from these interest rate increases, and the idea of mortgage interest relief is a very positive move for them. I understand there are over 200,000 people in that situation who would be able to access or to benefit from that relief. What would be a typical relief such a person will be able to get?

The Department is setting thresholds at €80,000 and €500,000. How were those figures arrived at, if the witnesses can answer that?

One of the other issues that is coming up - a great many people are asking about it - is that many have not had such a relief before. They may not be entirely familiar with doing tax returns, may not be self-employed or may have done only the MED-1-type or the MED-2-type return over the years. How will they access this relief? Will it be automatically applied for them or will they have to go somewhere to make that application? Is there is a timeframe set down for them to access and get the benefit of this tax relief?

The witnesses might stick with the mortgages first, please.