Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An issue has developed within the Revenue Commissioners. Page 29 of the programme for Government outlines the help to buy scheme. I understand that because of the software in the Revenue Commissioners some people who applied for the help to buy scheme were given a commitment in error by the Revenue Commissioners that they qualified for the scheme. Following an audit of the help to buy scheme, letters issued on 7 and 8 March regarding this issue and people are being told they are no longer entitled to join the scheme. They are being told they will have to repay the money, pay a fine of €3,000 or €5,000 and an interest rate per day of a percentage of that. Depending on how that is calculated, it comes to more than €100,000. Is the Minister taking control of this very serious issue? People have contacted me about it and they are frightened by the documents coming from the Revenue Commissioners. I understand some officials are trying to resolve it, but what is the Government's solution to the issue?

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