Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not propose to accept this amendment. There are two elements to the definition of qualifying residents, the first of which is that the residence is owned and occupied by the individual as his or her principal private residence. The second element concerns a property which has previously been occupied as a residence. Where such a property is acquired for the purposes of occupation by an individual as his or her principal private residence and is occupied on completion of qualified work, it comes within the definition of qualifying residence. The proposed amendment seeks to bring newly built houses within the incentive.

I have a few points to make on this. First, the incentive is specifically aimed at repair, renovation and improvement works. This is to facilitate home owners to carry out such works to their homes and at the same time act as a stimulus to the construction industry. In general, the only instance in which a newly built house would require works to be carried out would be for the fitting out of such a house to make it habitable. Fitting out is obviously an intrinsic and essential feature of building a new home and inclusion of that type of work in the incentive would constitute dead weight and would not provide an added stimulus to the construction industry. Further consideration has been given to the proposed amendment since Committee Stage, but it has been decided that the relief will not be extended further to include newly built homes, as proposed by Deputy Doherty on Committee Stage and again today.

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