Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the detail in his answer. It is much appreciated. There are, however, two elements in the answer that are disappointing and shocking. The Minister of State made the point that by May, 57% of beneficiaries had obtained access to the full 30% rate. What about the other 43%? Are they either only getting it at 25% or not at all? In the case of the constituent who contacted me, he was not entitled to the 25% rate in the first place and therefore might not have gained in any way. Does that mean the 43% who did not get the 30% were getting nothing or 25%?

The situation with Ulster Bank is also extraordinary. It is only from April of 2013, a full year and a quarter after the budget was implemented, that Ulster Bank customers will get the full 30% rate of mortgage interest tax relief. Given that we implemented the measure due to the financial difficulties faced by these people through no fault of their own, it is shocking to find that by May of this year, 43% of banks had not implemented the full measure, despite the fact the Government had brought in the measure in December. I share the Minister of State's real disappointment about this matter. It is extraordinary that the act of changing a percentage level in an IT system would pose such a difficulty that a bank finds itself unable to implement this measure a full year and a quarter after its introduction in the budget.

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