Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the Deputy's assertion in that regard. I point to the fact that almost 22,000 taxpayer units, some of whom may be couples given the way they are counted by the Revenue Commissioners, made a claim for this relief as part of their 2023 PAYE income tax return. I expect that many more will do so over the eligibility period. Although it was an estimate, the figure provided to me at the time was that approximately 208,000 eligible accounts, predominantly tracker and variable mortgages, representing approximately 165,000 properties would be eligible for the relief. That means that many thousands of people who have paid significantly increased sums in interest as a result of the monetary policy of the ECB are entitled to claim this mortgage interest tax credit. I encourage them to do so. The process is relatively straightforward. Many thousands have successfully done so already.

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